UCLA
After two years at Cypress College, Cherese was prepared to transfer. In 1994 she was accepted into UCLA... she was thrilled and so were we! It was time for her to move out of the only home she had ever lived in. It would be difficult, yet exciting. She found an apartment in Westwood to share with three complete strangers, all female, all very different, but she didn't feel safe there.
She wanted to try living on her own, and though we were reluctant, Cherese found a one room studio apartment a couple blocks from campus. Todd had also recently moved out of our home to attend Cal State University Fullerton. Larry and I were about to experience 'Empty Nest Syndrome!' Actually, Cherese was such a homebody girl, we got to see her quite often. I didn't even mind when she brought home her laundry. I can remember many times telling Cherese, how happy she made us and how lucky we were and so very proud of her.
The first year at UCLA, Cherese was very shy and kept to herself. She had planned her classes according to her goals. She was a geography major. She used much of the knowledge gained by her dedication and perseverance in school. The Spanish she learned from a textbook was applied at our family business, and would also benefit her while traveling abroad. She loved to listen to Spanish music and enjoyed foreign films.
Cherese was very interested in social and political issues and often expressed a deep concern for those who were less fortunate. She focused her studies and efforts on how she could help, especially children.
During her time at UCLA, Cherese learned about the "Semester at Sea" program, which at the time was sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh, and run by the Institute for Shipboard Education. They take 700 students, twice a year, around the world for 100 days on a cruise ship. It is full time school when they are out to sea and field studies when they are in port for college credit.
She planned to go the following spring, then return to UCLA for her senior year and graduate in June 1997. She wanted the opportunity to enrich her knowledge and gain a better understanding of the cultures, peoples and environments they would be visiting, and she wanted the challenge of learning more about herself and how she would be affected by the conditions in which people in many other countries live. Unfortunately, we will never know all the feelings Cherese was experiencing during the Semester at Sea trip.
September 17, 1995 was Cherese's 21st birthday. We wanted to take Cherese to Las Vegas, but it was too difficult for Todd and Cherese to arrange the time, so we didn't go. Cherese decided she just wanted to go bowling and have fun. Larry and I took her to Java Lanes and we all had a great time. Later that evening, we took Cherese out to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants. Thinking back to the fun we had that night, the laughter and smile on Cherese's face when she ordered a glass of wine for the very first time, it is hard to believe it was the last time we would ever celebrate her birthday. She would never be older then 21.
Though Cherese dated in high school and jr. college, she did not have anyone special in her life at this time, until she met Brian. They were in the same Spanish class at UCLA and soon became friends. Then Brian asked Cherese for a date. Not long after, his unexpected kiss changed everything. Brian would now have a special place in her heart. Forever. He made her laugh. He made her happy. And she did the same for him. Brian wrote a beautiful article about Cherese, printed in the UCLA Daily Bruin.
We read everything together. We asked every question possible about Cherese's safety. We were assured that she would be safe. She began the long series of shots to protect her from diseases. Night after night she would read through the materials to select the trips for her itinerary. On February 1st Cherese would fly to Nassau, Bahamas, where the ship, SS Universe Explorer would depart and travel to: La Guaira, Venezuela; Salvador, Brazil; Cape Town, South Africa; Mombasa, Kenya; Madras, India; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Manila, Philippines; Hong Kong; Kobe, Japan and back to the United States, to Seattle, Washington on May 13th. Cherese would not…