Inspirational ‘Roadtrip ’ delivers
message of untraditional success
‘Roadtrip Nation’ compiles
stories of people who defined
their own path in life
Book review
Jacquelyn Lewis
Pulse Editor
Graduation is nearing once again,
and seniors everywhere are quaking in
their Skechers, cringing at the vast ex
panse that is life after June. I have a
suggestion for these soon-to-be-gradu
ates: “Roadtrip Nation: A Guide to Dis
covering Your Path in Life.” We need
this recently released book by Mike
Marriner and Nathan Gebhard, with
the help of Joanne Gordan.
“Roadtrip Nation” is more than just
a book; it’s a compilation of inspiration,
it’s a film documentary, a Web site —
and most of all, it’s an inspirational,
generational movement.
Pepperdine University juniors Geb
hard and Marriner started out con
fused. Marriner, a biology major, and
Gebhard, a business major, were dis
appointed with what they saw as
“noise” — society’s prescript advice
and job descriptions. A few years and
two road trips later, the best friends
have graduated and created an im
pressive collection of interviews with
leaders and a generous smattering of
other notable people — whose roads
to success weren’t always paved with
tradition. Some never went to college;
some barely graduated. But ultimately,
all the subjects found their niche in
jobs that defy the “noise.”
The book offers several standout sto
ries, such as costume designer and styl
ist-to-the-stars Arianne Phillips, who
started her career with a move to New
York, a makeshift portfolio, several cold
calls and a lot of courage. The 247-page
work also includes hilarious snippets
from the authors’ trips, such as when
their RV trailer fell off on the streets of
San Francisco.
Now, Marriner and Gebhard are on
a third trip, this time to promote the
new book. I caught up with them when
they made a pit stop (their third en
gagement on the tour) at the Universi
ty Bookstore. The duo’s personality
and message is as inspiring as the book
itself, and the two prove college stu
dents don’t have to be jaded to be cool.
“We really wanted to help our gener
ation explore the world,” Marriner
said, adding that most college students
are so focused on studies that they
don’t often have the opportunity to ex
plore all options.
“A lot of the time, we see our genera
tion is overly focused, and sometimes
that traps them,” he said. “It’s really
hard to differentiate between what is
yours and what is society’s.”
Both Gebhard and Marriner said
their “Roadtrip Nation” experience
transformed their oudook on society
and beyond.
“I think it thwacked us on the
head,” Marriner said.
Gebhard agreed.
“The world you were just walking
through before can become this
fountain of knowledge,” he said.
Gebhard and Marriner’s story is as
motivational as the tales of the peo
ple they interviewed. Before creating
“Roadtrip Nation,” Gebhard said the
Courtesy
only things he had ever written were
“bad essays in English classes.”
All this adds up to a project that
promises to wash over hard-working
students like a breath of fresh air. It
reassures us that life is piecemeal,
nothing is for certain and you never,
ever have to stay inside the lines.
As Gebhard and Marriner say in
their “Roadtrip Nation Manifesto,”
“Define your own road in life instead
of traveling down someone else’s. Lis
ten to yourself. Your road is the Open
Road. Find it. Find the Open Road.”
Graduation, here we come.
“Roadtrip Nation” is available in
book stores now. For more informa
tion, visit www.roadtripnation.com.
Contact the Pulse editor
atjacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com.
Kidd
continued from page 5
program. The first round of the 2002
03 competition took place on April 15.
Schiff said the open competition is an
important outgrowth of the tutorials.
“It’s one way the Kidd Program in
fluences the community,” Schiff said.
The Program in Creative Writing
also brings a nationally known poet
or fiction writer to the University for
the final prize announcement. He or
The Journalism
School's annual
advertising
competition is quickly
approaching.
Be sure to get
your work in NOW!
Awards are judged
in these 5 areas:
• Print
• Print Campaigns
• Interactive
• Radio/Audio
• TV Video
Last call for entries
5/1/03 at 4:30 p.m.
For more information,
go to the Duniway Center or 5^
Allen Hall Rm. 134. ^
Today's crossword solution
she reads from his or her work and
acts as one of two final judges.
Schiff and Harlan-Ferlo said the ben
efits of the program can pay off in many
ways. Each year, scholarships are
awarded to especially talented students
within the tutorials. At the end of each
fall term, Kidd tutors nominate stu
dents who demonstrate serious poten
tial in the many facets of the program.
Schiff said the program’s year
long duration is what ultimately
makes it beneficial to novice writers.
“We’re able to share a journey
that you just can’t get in 10 weeks.
That’s what makes the difference,”
Schiff said.
Contact the senior Pulse reporter
atryanbornheimer@dailyemerald.com.
USE (WISELY®
Every Waff Counts
Energy Use OFF
Conservation ON!!!
Sponsored by the UO Campus Environmental Issues Committee
reuse
shoe
Recycle all your
old sports shoes!
no metal parts
a
What is the reuse-a-shoe project?
Reuse-A-Shoe is an effort being launched in our community
through a partnership with Campus Recycling, National Recycling
Coalition (NRC),and NIKE Corporation. Shoes will be recycled
into a material that will be used for athletic surfaces within out
community. The goal is to collect 5,000 pairs of shoes starting
April 1,2003.
Only athletic shoes can be recycled through Reuse-A-Shoe.
Please no metal parts.
Campus Recycling
346-0961
Thanks for Recycling!
Starting April I at locations
in the EMU and REC Center.
Special Collection will be
at Earthday and Folk Festival.
016267
Meed committed and creative student volunteers
to advise the University Health Center regarding
programs, services, finances, and health insurance.
Student advisors will spend about 1-2 hours per
week as members of the evolving Student Health
Advisory Committee (SHAC) and will guide the
University Health Center in promoting a healthy
campus through the storm of health care reform.
Successful participants will gain an in-depth
understanding of health care delivery and its
financing, will learn about the health issues of college
students, and will develop interpersonal skills and
confidence.
Routine meetings are scheduled at 3 p.m. Fridays,
allowing members to plan their class schedules
accordingly.
Applications can be picked up at the
University Health Center front desk.
Completed applications should be
submitted to the University Health Center
Director's office by May 2.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
Health Center
Please call 346-4447 for more information.
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Oregon Daily Emerald 346-3712