Ben's Journal « First-Year Student Journals

Profile

Tell us about yourself.

I have a hard time defining myself. Every time I try I realize I'm too complex to come up with a satisfactory answer. I'm pretty awkward, considering I'm a tall person. I love California and what's going on right now, and can't wait to see where God puts me next. I'm basically your average Biolan who just happens to be from New Hampshire.

What's a word or short phrase that best describes you?

Tall. At least that's what everyone tells me.

What are some of your goals and aspirations?

At a basic level, I know what makes me happy and what I am good at. On the other hand, I've always felt my dreams have lacked a certain sharpness and sense of purpose that should go with them. There is a lot I could theoretically see myself doing. I love movies, writing, history, traveling... the list goes on. But for now, I'm at Biola with oodles of opportunities surrounding me. My foremost goal is to make sure I use all my potential while I'm here so I can develop and come more into my own by the time I graduate. And then, when I start "real life" it's up to God where He puts me. I don't know where that will be yet, but I'll be ready.

What do you do in your free time?

Lots. My dream day of free time would be selfish and irresponsible fun! It would go like this: wake up at about 9:30ish, eat French toast and bacon, play with my adorable little cocker spaniel (he's named Bocelli!), head out for a nice little run, exercise, take a bike ride, play tennis, head back home for tacos and a hot bath with "The Last of the Mohicans" soundtrack playing in the background ("Garden Scene" is the best track). Next, I would read a few books and magazines, write down some movie ideas, take a 45 minute nap, then off to make a movie with my pals, followed by watching a movie, playing frisbee (or sledding off some serious jumps if it's winter). For dinner I would have rotini pasta with grape-ale, mushroom sauce, garlic bread, and Caesar salad. After dinner, I would drive up the coast, singing along to some tunes while looking at the stars and waves.

Why did you choose Biola?

California has always been a mysterious, far-away place to me. It seemed too cool to even actually exist (that's where they make all the movies!). I thought that going to college out here seemed like a logical choice, because there didn't seem to be a better area. That doesn't really explain my illogical (lazy?) decision to only apply to two colleges out here though... Biola was the one I got accepted to, and so I headed out for a visit last spring. After that, I couldn't rationally picture myself anywhere except Biola. I was tired of wasting time with the distractions of public school. Biola seemed the perfect place for me to grow up.

Where is your favorite place to hang out?

On the East Coast: Boston, Portsmouth, Exeter, Joe's New York Pizza, Zesto Pizza, North Beach, Hampton Cinemas Six. West Coast: Common Grounds, "The Gazebo", pretty much any beach... well, pretty much this whole state.

What makes you laugh?

Watching funny movies, Dane Cook, the simple joy of being blessed and alive. I love when you laugh so hard with friends that your throat and your stomach ache but you keep coming back for more.

When I was four and my sister Meg was two, I decided I wanted to learn how to drive. So one day, we pulled up to the house in our old family station wagon so my mom could run in and grab something she forgot earlier. I thought it would be a cool idea to play a little game called, "Hey, I wonder what this lever does?" As it turned out, that lever is the one that made the car go backwards, right onto the street. There was kind of a truck coming, and my sister was kind of in the back seat (likely to get crushed first). So, to save my sister, I hit the lever again, and the car went forward this time, and straight through the garage door! But wait, there's more. When I was eight, I pressed the button that closed the garage door, not knowing my dad was backing out of the garage. My dad didn't know I was closing the door, and drove right through it. Yeah, my dad's a tank. So now I've smashed two garage doors and I'm on the hunt for my third.