Student leaves Greece for LV
Campus Times
September 13, 1996
While living in Greece for 13 years, Freshman Aaron Nonemaker traveled
to Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany and England. His goal while in the
U.S. is to travel to Alaska and go snow boarding. According to Nonemaker,
he enjoys snow boarding because it "...is the kind of sport where there
are no rules involved, no restrictions."
by Kiandra Shawnta Johnson
Staff Writer
One of life's biggest lessons, "never stop learning," is most
frequently taught in the home of Aaron Nonemaker.
Nonemaker, now a freshman at the University of La Verne, has traveled all
the way from Greece, where his father, Jeffrey Nonemaker, is the dean of
the Athens campus to become a ULV student.
Although his father was very influential, he did not feel any pressure to
come to La Verne or to continue his education. He felt he was supported
by his family in whatever decision he made.
"They want me to be whatever I want to be," said Nonemaker. "They
want me to be happy."
Along with the majority of his high school graduating class coming to the
states, there was a preference for coming to La Verne, in that he often
visited the United States for summer breaks. There was also a desire "to
go out and experience life," and since "there are all kinds of
people in California, it makes it more exciting and interesting."
The presence of family in Upland and the climate, which is similar to Greece,
also helped him make his decision.
In comparing the differences between his two worlds, Nonemaker feels that
California is much faster paced then where he grew up. Coming from a high
school with 800 students, to him even a tiny school like La Verne seems
big.
"I've seen both sides of the world," he said, "like how people
live."
"In Greece, there is always time to relax and have fun, be laid back,
as opposed to the States, where everything is rushed and hurried,"
said Nonemaker.
However, despite those differences, there are also more opportunities for
him to work here then in Greece. In Greece, work is not possible until the
age of 18.
Another advantage to living in Greece, is that there is more freedom, since
there is virtually no crime there. All of these advantages and disadvantages
weighed together gave Nonemaker an outlook many freshmen college students
do not have.
"I don't take college for granted," he said, expressing his deep
appreciation for higher education.
Nonemaker, who is not of Greek origin, but "feels Greek," because
he has lived there his entire life. He did not get treated any different
upon arriving at La Verne. He says people are more curious, but does not
complain because he is meeting a lot of new people.
As a former member of "Katerkiller," a band of four he was involved
in during high school, Nonemaker generally enjoys all music, with the exception
of country and rap. He has not decided on a major but is leaning toward
communications, and he aspires to work in a sound studio producing albums.
"Happiness is most important. I'm not in it for the money," he
said. "If you're doing something and you're not happy, then it's really
not worth it at all."
Nonemaker, a well-rounded student, speaks French, Greek, and a tiny bit
of Arabic and enjoys working out, jogging and snowboarding, something he's
been doing for the past seven years, in his spare time.
He also enjoys Italian food, especially pasta, and is presently with his
same girlfriend of five years.
He is considering rushing next spring semester, but has no preference as
to which way he will go.
Another prospective ULV student is his sister, who will soon complete of
her bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family
counseling at Elizabethtown College, in Pennsylvania. She is considering
La Verne for her masters degree.