Nava... Not Just an Athelete
by Kissea Hall

Goran Nava's story starts in Italy. If you're interested in taking a tour of Italy or just doing some traveling you can check out Italy and make accommodations at www.virtualtourist.com.

Nava, who's a native Italian was receiving a traditional style education at home, which basically consisted of instruction in the social sciences, such as philosophy, Geek, Latin, political science, and other similar subjects. And when he wasn't hard at work on his studies, Nava was busy honing his running skills. But eventually Nava decided he wanted to go to the states and run but at the same time receive instruction in subjects which could later be utilized in the workplace.

He spoke to his coach in Italy, and as luck would have it the coach knew the track coach here at RU. He set it up where they could talk and eventually Nava was awarded a track scholarship to attend RU. And since his arrival Nava has made quite an impression on everyone who has come into contact with him. He embodies the quintessential student athlete, who excels in the classroom and on the track.

Nava was Radford's first track athlete to receive the first team Verizon Academic All American honors. He was also awarded the USTA, and he was named to the 2003 Division I All Academic Track and Field team.

But Nava doesn't regret a moment that's spent on studying and his numerous extracurricular activities. He wants to learn and meet new people and he firmly believes that that can't be accomplished while sitting in front of the television.

As a double major in media studies and finance, the time that isn't spent running or in club meetings is spent on homework or at his internship at an investment firm. Nava is a busy man who may seem to be having a difficult time what with his adjustment to a different culture and his academic obligations.

When asked what was the most difficult part about adjusting to the Radford University campus life, Nava immediately responds. The language transition and the odd dinner hours is what bothered him the most. He remembers that in his first years here at RU, he'd often decline to raise his hand to answer a question because he was afraid that the words would come out all wrong. And after he'd finally mastered a sufficient command of English there were the dining hours to contend with.

In Italy they're just sitting down for tea at five or six in the evening while here that is considered the dinner hour. So when seven rolled around and Nava was preparing to eat at Dalton, he'd arrive there only to discover that the dining room had just closed. Due to the dining discrepancies here, he confided that for the first few weeks he was here, he always missed dinner.

When looking back on his years at RU Nava will have good and bad experiences to look back on but one particular moment stands out in his mind. He remembers that one day his track coach sat the whole team down to talk, because they'd been having a lot of problems with team morale. He asked everyone to state how they felt about the team and whether or not they wanted to quit, and one by one everyone stood up and for the most part their replies were negative.

Well when it was finally Nava's turn to stand up, he said he couldn't and he wouldn't stand for them saying negative things about the team. He told everyone that the, "positiveness of such an experience requires the capability to handle difficult moments and if we quit then it mean's we're not made for it." And after he had his say no one quit. He repeatedly mentions that out of all the people that stood up and said anything he was the only one who had anything good to say about the team and that moment stands out in his mind to this day.

So while quitting may be a foreign concept to Goran Nava, when his days wrap up here at RU, this scholar and athlete will be leaving with plenty of trophies, and even more memories. In Radford, I'm Kisssea Hall, with NRV News.

-If you'd like to participate in a student exchange program you can either talk to someone in the international education department at RU or go visit this site.
-If you'd like to get a glimpse of Nava's homeland you can look at these pictures and then go to www.myphotographs.net.