2014–15 Issue 13: This One Is For You

Campus Chronicle PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE

ISSUE 13-VOL XCI

This one is for you, Jayaram

Letter From the Editor I hate chocolate. Whether it be in the form of bars, ice cream or shakes, I despise it. However, like all umbrella statements, there is a loophole. There is one type of chocolate that I will stomach and that is chocolate with sea salt in it. I like it because it has variable change.

You never know if a bite will be pure chocolate and you will detest it, or if it will be a delicious salty-sweet combination that wins you over.

I like variable change is why this academic year has been my favorite. Or I might be biased because this is my last. #Graduation. This year has been full of peaks and troughs and I have learned to love the variance that comes with constant change. Embracing change is a big step for someone who sets four alarms and has “free time” scheduled on his to-do list.

Over the past year I’ve had the privilege to be the editor-in-chief of the Campus Chronicle and it was the perfect capstone to my undergraduate career. I saw PUC through a different light, and I consider my metamorphosis into an adult to be almost complete. My adult transformation would have been complete, but I could never learn how to do my own laundry due to lack of machines.

This is the last letter I get to write and it is composed of two parts: advice to those I leave behind and a few thank yous.

Advice Don’t Let Your Life Buffer There will be many options thrown at you in college — too many. Just pick what feels right and what makes you happy, because if you get busy making “pros and cons” lists for everything, the opportunities will leave without you. Then you can use the lists to wipe up your tears.

Asking Never Hurts Go ask for that job, internship, fellowship or date you have always wanted. You already do not have it, so you can only go up from here. I cannot tell you how many opportunities I have gotten by simply writing an email.

Obviously be smart about it. By this, I mean be professional and do not nag people or come across as desperate. Oh, and with asking for dates, don’t be creepy and probably don’t use your email.

Ignore The Haters Everyone gets criticized, but what will set you apart is how you respond. Yes, you could vent about it on Twitter. Wait, no. Be an adult and keep your personal problems off the Internet. If you really need to vent that badly, go be a good hipster and buy a Moleskine to write in. However, what you must never do is stop doing what is right for you because other people suck. There are two mottos you can follow: mine is to just cry on the inside like a winner, but the modern day philosopher T. Swift will just tell you to shake it off.

Don’t Be A Hater Please do not complain about judgmental people and then be one. One of the most important lessons college has taught me is to just love people. Everyone is different. People will do things that you do not agree with, hold different values than you and even orient themselves differently. Get over it—it is 2015. While delivering a TED Talk titled, “Love, no matter what,” author Andrew Solomon said, “It is our differences and our negotiation of differences that unites us.” The sooner we can just accept the fact that we all have good aspects and everyone sucks a bit because we are human, the sooner we can get to just loving everyone.

Thank You I could not have completed my job of editor-in-chief without tremendous amounts of help and support from countless people. First off, my entire staff, I know sometimes it was frantic and I could be demanding. My bad.

It was all out of love and I am forever grateful for your dedication and hard work. Now all the people who were there for me when I was overwhelmed and on the edge of a nervous breakdown, you people are the real MVPs. Cody and Aaron, you have put up with me for hours when I would come into your room, sit on your floor and eat your food. You two always have a way of making my mistakes seem like somebody else’s fault. I like that.

Trent and Lacy, thanks for always being only a text message away. Whether it was to get coffee so I could run away from responsibilities or to go see a late movie with friends, you two were always up for the plans.

Nic, you’re the French accent to my Napoleon Bonaparte, the cheese to my baguette and any other French combo you want to complete. My job would have been twice as hard without your help. #neshikot Professor Thew, thank you for helping me not get fired all year long. I do not know how you managed to Houdini that one, but thank you.

Thank you to the person who constantly helps me remain stress-free even when I don’t even have time to eat. You always keep me on my toes and you push me to better myself. Shukran to my beautiful girlfriend Lily.

Also, to the person who has heard me vent about this job more than anyone else combined and has always been by my side — I love you, Mom. If I forgot to list you and say thank you, just know that I appreciate you. If you’re mad because I forgot you ,then read my fourth piece of advice.

Sadly, there is one more letter from me in the coming pages and that is to address the focus of this issue. This issue is for our fallen friend Jayaram, and we hope these pages can bring those who are hurting some much-needed comfort. Thanks for an amazing year PUC. With love, David O’Hair Editor-in-Chief

THIS ONE IS FOR YOU

This One is For You This is a letter I never wanted to write, nor did I think I ever would have to. Not just because it is emotionally torturous, but because it is a goodbye.

Goodbyes deserve more than just a letter, so this entire issue is dedicated to a great friend and fellow PUC student, Jayaram Notestine.

Jayaram’s passing seems unreal. A mere day before his passing Jayaram walked past me on the stairs to Irwin Hall and asked, “How’s it going, fancy pants?” before breaking out into his trademark smile. Jayaram had a way of uplifting everyone around him through his constant laughter, radiant smile and infectious positivity.

I met Jayaram my freshman year and we immediately bonded over our mutual love for bikes, even though he always gave me a hard time about being a “spandex wearing roadie.” Even though he was a mountain biker, this shared interest quickly turned into a friendship, which would provide me with many deep conversations over the coming years.

Jayaram had a talent of always being able to talk about life in depth, while still being light hearted.

I remember when he found out I was planning on going to law school he started calling me “legally blonde” in passing. Then, about a year later, he walked up to me in the cafeteria where I was eating alone, called me legally blonde and then sat down.

He then asked me, “Do you think you could justify defending a guilty client with your religious background?” This caught me by surprise because I didn’t expect him to remember my career goals.

This question wasn’t phrased with hostility or laced with judgment; instead there was palpable curiosity emanating from him. All he wanted to do was understand other people and what went on behind the opposite pair of eyes staring back at him. This was Jayaram.

Genuine. Personable. Loving.

Jayaram was the complete package of love, plus he could fix any problems you had with your car. However, he would never hesitate to fix any problem you had, mechanical or emotional. There was never a time where helping someone was inconvenient for Jayaram. You will see this pattern of love and service permeating the stories found within this issue. We have compiled stories about Jayaram and love notes written for him. Jayaram, PUC will never be the same without you and our trails will never be ridden by anyone with a better mountain biking skill set.

For all the things you did for me, this one is for you, buddy. We will see you soon, Jayaram.

With love, David O’Hair Editor-in-Chief

Written by Karla Ferrando

Dear Jayaram,

Mi amor. From the day we met you said God picked us for each other. I never met a man like you. A man so in love with our Heavenly Father. So in love with life and what you and I had to look forward to together. Not once did you forget to remind me how much you love me. You were a blessing, an angel, a gift and my rock.

To all of you here on campus, I know that everyone here was touched by Jayaram. I may not know all of you well, but my aching heart goes out to you. And with this pain in my chest, I can assure you all that we will see him again. Celebrate his life. God is with us. Jayaram fought the good fight and he loved our Lord so very much and now he is closer to the One he has been closest to.

God has a plan for each and everyone of our lives, Jayaram would want us to remember that. Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Let us pray. Let us fight the good fight so we may see our loved ones again. I can’t wait to see mine with outstretched arms. Baby, it’s you, me and Jesus. Wait for me up there. I love you Jayaram Robert Notestine. I’ll see you soon amor, just not yet.

I really want to thank you for being my best friend, my brother. You have been such an important dude in my life that it will be hard to accept that when I need help with my car, or when biking sounds like the best idea to go release some pressure in the testosterone system, that you won’t be able to be there with me. Other than being fashionably late for a few things, I could always depend on you to be the guy to be there and offer some of the best guidance and advice while you were here. I’m sure that’s what you are still doing, so keep it up. I can also be sure, that wherever you are in that wonderful place, you are happier than I will have ever known you to be. And that’s saying a lot, because you are one really happy guy!

Thank you for being in my life for half of my existence so far. I really hope you know how much you mean to me. We have helped each other grow so much over the past decade. From boys, we helped one another become men, and I will never forget how you have been that friend for me.

I’m gonna miss you man. You had to leave so soon that we weren’t able to say goodbye. When I see you again, I’m gonna sock you in the arm for that. I hear its beautiful where you’re at now. I’ve only read about it. Can’t wait to see it for myself. That time will come though. I know it will probably be a while until I travel there myself, but do me a favor. Dig some awesome trails for us to rip on the bikes, build your dream shop, and give your sweet mother a hug for me. We’ll have a much, much longer time together when I see you again.

I love you, bro. Now, ride on.

Written by Thacher Greene

One of the people who made my life even better was Hey Jayaram, I couldn’t believe when I heard, I We asked PUC “Jayaram Notestine. This morning I woke up to find out “thought it was a bad joke, but it wasn’t and I couldn’t that he has passed away. I am deeply saddened because help and break down into tears... I remember the first to share how Jayaram was a guardian angel of mine. My freshman year time I met you. You came into the Grind and asked for at PUC I was on my way down the hill to get antibiotics six shots, I looked at Krystal and she said ‘just give him for my pneumonia, and I got a flat tire. After about five- three,’ so I did and you came up to me afterwards and Jayaram affected minutes of talking to my dad on the phone with tears told me, ‘this is the best damn coffee I’ve ever had’ and in my eyes, I turn to see Jayaram walking towards me. I since then we became friends and you made me think I their lives. legitimately started crying. Jayaram had helped me with was actually good at making coffee... I will miss seeing

Out of an overwhelming amount of responses, here’s just a glimpse of what Jayaram meant to this campus.

my car before, and if I could have someone by my side at that moment, I would have chosen him. I said, “Jayaram! What are you doing here!?” as I ran up to him and gave him a hug. He responded with, “I drove by and saw you crying on the side of the road, so I turned around and came back.” I remember telling my dad, who was nervous about his daughter being hours away and on the side of the road, “I’m fine dad! Jayaram is here. My friend who has helped me fix my car before.”

He drove me to get my antibiotics, and I bought him lunch. He took me back up to my car, changed the tire for me, and then followed me back up the hill, hoping to help me find a new tire. Since that day, Jayaram also helped my mom and I when we got a flat tire at PUC. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, for me at least... he may not have agreed!

I will miss him dearly. The back 40 trails wont be the same without him. See you soon, my guardian angel.

You will never be forgotten.

— Alex Dunbar, graduate

“

I still remember my first time meeting you. Must have been third or fourth grade, behind the kickball court at PUC Elementary. To me you were the coolest kid at school. I don’t remember what was said, but I do remember you had the coolest shoes — black Church taylor’s with flames on them. After that I didn’t buy another brand of shoes until the end of high school. Thanks for always listening to me, and for never laughing at my dumb questions about cars or motorcycles. You were, and have always been one of the nicest guys around and I can’t believe you have been taken this soon.

— Luke Butler, junior

“

you come in and ask for ridiculous amounts of espresso.

Save us all spots in Heaven!

— Valeria Perez, sophomore

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There are no words. You were an amazing, adventurous, sweet person. Thank you for always speaking like Forrest Gump around me. You made me so happy. You have inspired me to love more deeply and let everyone I appreciate know how amazing they are. I will be unafraid to love. ‘Life is like a box of chocolates…..’

— Halstyn Hart, graduate

“

I’ll always remember him as both ‘a real man’ and a straight-up clown. He was the type of guy who didn’t mind putting in a little elbow grease here and there. Like a true mechanic, whenever he worked on a car, he would proudly wear his oil/grease smeared clothes for the rest of the day. Unlike the rest of us, he possessed the uncanny ability to say things how they were. His common sense was literally unmatched among most my friends.

Always willing to give advice, I remember him sitting with random people; either comforting or probably just telling them what they needed to hear in order to get past whatever they were going through. He helped me with a great many things including drama, relationship stuff, car maintenance, fishing tricks, and much more. I remember him always asking me, ‘So when are you going to get an STI?’ Before anything you could always count on him being your cheerful friend first, a quality that is all too rare. Thanks for the friendship, car advice, fishing trips, and all the smiles you have ever given me.

Catch you later, man.

— Ian Gustafson, senior

Jayaram, I know we weren’t the best of friends, but you made a huge impact on my life and the lives of so many I’ll never forget the friend who helped me buy and different people. I still remember the first time I visited learn to drive my first car, taught me how to play guitar, PUC for a basketball tournament and the fabled boxer taught me that growing up has its ups and downs, but caroling was one of the nights we were staying. Right that we’ll do it together as brothers. You were one of the around midnight, you barged into the room where me most real and friendly people I’ll ever know. Around and my classmates were staying, bellowing like a mad- here, even the forgotten people got your respect and man and encouraging us, people you had never met in conversation. You showed me through actions that each your life, to come with you for the time of our lives. You person matters. I really loved you bro. And I miss you embodied friendship, kindness, and life, and you’ll be like crazy.” missed more than you’ll ever know. Prayers go out to — Daniel Hayes, junior your family, friends, and loved ones. See you on the other side, man.

— Conor Russell, senior

“

“

It was Winter Quarter of my freshman year, 2011. I was feeling scared and depressed. I missed my family and worried that I had chosen the wrong career to pursue, being a writer. It was late so I couldn’t call my parents and I didn’t want to bother anyone with my problems. I was sitting in Winning when Jayaram walked in and came up to say hi.

As soon as he saw I was sad, even though I did my best to hide it, he sat down and asked what was wrong. I told him I was feeling scared of what I was choosing to do with my life and I was considering dropping out. He nodded and said, “Go get your car keys, we’re going for a drive.” I didn’t know what he was planning, but I did what he said. He took my keys, found a jazz station, and we started driving.

He parked the car in a secluded spot where you could see the stars, turned to me and said, “OK, tell me everything. Don’t leave out a detail.” A flood gate opened in me and I told him how afraid I was going to fail, I had chosen the wrong career, I wasn’t going to be able to support myself. I should have done what parents said and studied nursing. It was the first time I was truly on my own, what if I messed up? What if I couldn’t fix anything? I went on an on listing my fears and when I was finished he sat there in silence.

After a few moments later he said, “You know something: I think you’re very brave. You came out here all by yourself to study something you love. Most people wouldn’t have the guts to leave their house, their comfort and their family to pursue something crazy like a dream. It’s good that you’re scared, life is too short to not pursue the dreams that scare us because they’re so big. I would be more worried if you weren’t scared.”

As we drove back to the dorms I sat there, processing what he said. I had never thought of it in that way. When he dropped me off he gave me a big hug, “Don’t leave ok.

You’re so far from being done. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

My parents had always taught me to be cautious, if something didn’t feel right or was scary to leave it alone. Jayaram told me being scared was ok, that ultimately it would make me fearless when I accomplished it. That’s how Jayaram lived. The more something scared him the more he was determined and met it head on. He was fearless and he LIVED.” — Angelica Casas, graduate

To the many friends of Jayaram, God has given each of us a purpose. Even though I would do anything it takes to get my best friend back so we can live our lives out the way we planned to, Jayaram was here because Christ was able to touch so many lives through him, including mine. He was torn from our lives in a way that leaves us in shock and incredible sadness. But Jayaram’s work here is done, and he is now standing in the warm and everlasting presence of Him. He is happier than he has been, and will have ever been in this world. He’s closer to The One whom he’s always been closest to. Jayaram was a saint and a witness to many who needed to be reminded of the Light again. For any reason that you cherished your friendship with him, I am that much prouder to be able to say he was my best friend.

So I will ask you, to rejoice in the Lord for Jayaram’s presence in your life, and rejoice that we will all be united together one day in the Kingdom of Heaven. It will take a while for us to grieve the loss of our brother, but we have to remember that God has the ultimate plan for our lives. He knew the number of our days, even before He created the Earth. The God of Creation, who formed the Heavens and the Earth, has a plan for you. Many do not know this about Jayaram, as he recently felt called to it, but he had plans to apply to Bible school to dedicate himself to the ministry and become a pastor. So I call on you now, to live your life to the fullest you can, smile like Jayaram, love others like Jayaram, bring others to know Jesus Christ as Jayaram would have continued to do, and to love the Lord our God, and Christ our Savior, with as much heart as Jayaram had. We have a paradise waiting for us, and now Jayaram is waiting patiently for us to join him there.

If Jayaram was a special part of your life, then you most likely were a special part in his, and words cannot sum up how grateful I am to you for that. Thank you.

God bless you all, Thacher Greene