Vanguard University of Southern California - Centurion Yearbook (Costa Mesa, CA)

Page 31 text:

m 27 The life endured as the people rested and were strengthened in the shadows of dieir seclusion. Students took this opportunity of peace to adjust and evaluate themselves in the light of this new factor of education. Life stopped for but a brief interim of time, but in that interlude a few people perceived a fresh glimpse of a personal and eternal new vision.

Page 33 text:

Against the promises of peace and prosperity threatened a storm of ac- ademic, social, and spirit- ual struggles. The realistic rigors and trials of a col- lege education were evi- denced by signs of student frustration and failure. Work weighed heavily on the wavering minds and wills. For one student, the pres- sures built, and for a moment, as conflict and confusion weakened his will- power and confidence, he stared blandly off into a faded vision. Fatigue and a sense of futility enveloped another man in his attempts for acceptable achievement. Others labored selflessly through long lapses of lassitude to present social recreation for their fellow students. The stress of academics became anguish for those who lucubrated in- to the early hours of the morning for term papers and finals. Sleep seemed innate in many who struggled to maintain an open and tractable mind, but suc- cumbed to the somnolence before a desk late at night or in a morning class. All the vitality of the beginning waned and circumstances manipulated men into mechanical and meaningless motions. The new vision al- most died several times, but there remained a spark in some unknown individuals, who were able to pray and smile. Somewhere in the midst of frustration, defeat, apathy, and ourselves, there echoed an epithet of faith and hope from the past that affirmed: Today is the best day of my life. We looked up in optimism and yet cognizant of all the pain and anguish, we walked past the valleys of despair and gloom, knowing that God used our struggles to make us stronger.