NSU Horizons Fall 2010

The introduction to MTV’s long-running popular show The Real World asks what happens when strangers live together in a house and things “start getting real.” At Nova Southeastern University, when students live together in the seven residence halls on campus, “getting real” often means becoming ingrained in campus life, developing into campus leaders, and making close connections with fellow students. Here’s a look at some residential students who have thrived while living on campus. Kory Evans For most college students, freshman year is a time of adjustment. But for Kory Evans, the adjustment time was accelerated as he quickly settled into a role as a campus leader. Admittedly nervous when he made the move from his hometown of Philadelphia to NSU, Evans turned check-in days at the residence halls into an opportunity to find friends and connect with his hall mates. Soon, Evans expanded his network beyond his residential floor and became involved in several student organizations, including the SCUBA Crew and the Society of Anime, Games, and Entertainment. He also took on leadership positions, becoming vice president of the Nature Club and public relations chair for The Commons Hall Council, part of the Residential Student Association. By the end of his freshman year, he secured a position in the Student Govern- ment Association (SGA). Part of his ability to assume and excel in leadership roles was living on the L.E.A.D. one (Leading Empowering Aspiring Developing) floor in The Commons Residence Hall. “Being on the leadership floor really helps,” Evans said. “My residential adviser provided really good suggestions on a number of occasions, especially when I ran for SGA.” Evans, a marine biology major in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, is now a sophomore and has moved onto the leadership two floor—giving him the opportunity to continue growing his leadership skills and pass on advice to others. Jonathan Martinez The journey from Brooklyn, New York, to NSU took Jonathan Martinez farther from home than any of his high- school classmates. It also meant leaving behind a large extended and close family, but it didn’t take long for Martinez to create a new “family” once he moved into Goodwin Hall. “I didn’t know anybody here, but my roommate and I clicked from the very first day. We’re both from New York and are both Puerto Rican,” he said. “We started knocking on doors and introducing ourselves to everybody in the hall. Soon we knew everyone in the building.” Martinez, an elementary education major at the Fischler School of Education and Human Services, takes advantage of the active campus life at NSU and can often be seen at athletic events supporting the Sharks. “I’m the one screaming in the crowd with my fins and Sharks shirt,” he said. Now a sophomore, Martinez is in a different residence hall—The Commons—but he’s certain the friendships and connections he made will last a lifetime. Student Profile 28 horizons Residential Leaders Discover the True “Real World” By Alan Hancock Kory Evans Jonathan Martinez Mikaela Myers