Through experience, life has much to offer

  Emi Kojima Kojima is a graduating
English student. She was an assistant news editor in 1998-1999.

It’s scary to say goodbye to so many people all at once
““ especially the ones who put their necks out on the line for
me and knew what was right for me at any particular moment in my
four years at UCLA.

I first want to say thank you to Chris Mott. He guided me and
supported me, and I hope that all students have that one professor
who inspires them to learn more and challenges them as Chris has
done for me.

I came to college like a little kid who had two crayons to draw
with, a yellow one and maybe that barf-colored crayon. Chris has
helped me draw better pictures and gave me a palette of rainbow
colors to draw with. He is truly a good person who teaches through
laughter and makes learning pleasurable.

I also want to thank A.R. Braunmuller for showing me how to
sharpen the crayons and strive for excellence. He shares his
research through the craft of teaching and cares about his
students. He makes the material come alive and has shown me how to
learn lessons from the past. He has been a good friend, guiding my
academic growth by prescribing books like a doctor prescribes
medicine.

Elena Jarvis has been the Daily Bruin’s media adviser for
three years. She is the kind of person who forces you to do a good
job, offering honest criticism that makes you think critically and
become a better person.

She is leaving this year, and the newspaper will miss her
spirit, dedication and skill. She has shown me how journalism is
about telling stories passionately. I have learned to care about
the people in my articles who have taken the time to talk with me,
and I’ve learned how writing can make a difference.

Stephen Dickey, Valerie Matsumoto, Beth Wightman, George
Edmondson, Adam Wasson, Debra Bronstein, Lynda Tolly: You have all
been great friends and people I aspire to be.

Mike, Mason, Katie, Nadia, Tawny, Pauline, Larry, Andy, Sadie,
Amy, Kristin, Gladys, Manuel, Jiwon, Stef, Steven, James: I learned
from all of you through doing mundane, stupid things with you and
learning how to do them beautifully.

I also discovered that I could live with myself and be happy in
solitude after living abroad. I’ve been lucky to have
traveled to Chile with the Education Abroad Program. I sincerely
hope every student takes the opportunity to do so and understand
what it feels like to be a foreigner trying to live in another
country.

In the movie, “After Life,” heaven is living in the
best moment of your life. I don’t have a perfect moment to
leave UCLA with, but the stories I’ve collected make me
understand why people say college marks the best years of your
life.