Navid Radfar, senior studying Psychology with a concentration in Biopsychology, member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Vice President of Student Services.
See this story in its bite-size version on our Instagram and Facebook.
“How do you define success? And how has being in a fraternity impacted your perspective on and understanding of success?”
“I define success a little differently, I define success as an internal feeling of accomplishment, a sensation that goes beyond our superficial needs that leads to happiness. A successful person is someone who is content with their life and continues to make strides to improve themselves and others around them.
Being in a fraternity and student government has definitely impacted my perspective and understanding of success. Involvement in these organizations has taught me that though people define success differently, individuals can come together as a group and collaborate to achieve a common goal.”
“What has been your single greatest accomplishment?”
“It’s a tie: first, going to college. I am a first generation student (in the U.S.). My parents weren’t born here so they weren’t able to take advantage of the education here.
And also, winning $100,000 from Dr. Pepper because that took a burden off my family’s shoulders.”
Navid participated in Dr. Pepper’s 2012 Tuition Giveaway, which he found out about through Facebook. It’s a program where the corporation donates $1 million to students across the country to help them finance their education.
“You make a one-minute about who you are and what you do and submit it. I sent mine and I thought it was horrible. I just submitted and forgot about it.”
He received a phone call months later with an offer of $2,500 toward his tuition. And an invitation to win the grand prize: $100,000. Reluctant at first, Navid went to a half-time football-throwing competition in North Carolina.
“I ended up going on TV and winning it.”
“Can you tell me about why you’re studying Biopsychology?”
“In high school, I was really interested in how the brain works. I came to school as a Biology major. I like Biology, but I didn’t think it was encompassing my interests.
I’m really interested in how people behave and the physiological effects that happen in the brain.”
Navid took that interest to the next level and did research with Dr. Leynes (Psychology) in his ERP (or Event-Related Potential) lab, where students measure brain waves through a cap placed on a participant’s head.
“Describe to me your ideal career.”
“My ideal job would be to go into neurology or neuro-surgery and do research in brain-related diseases.”
“What is inspiring to you this week?”
“Right now we’re working on an initiative (in Student Government) to extend the gym hours, the library hours, and Eickhoff hours.
And I had an individual come up to me and say ‘Hey, I really want to get involved with this. I feel like I’m not doing much in my other community. Can I come and join yours?’
I was inspired because people want to get involved and help out. This campus is full of that, too, that everyone wants to help each other. I was inspired by the fact that someone I didn’t know came up to me and wanted to spear-head this initiative.”
—Story by Jack Meyers
—Photography by Jaryd Frankel