SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: New Balance, New Nathan

By: Emma Bartholomew

Living in the same place his whole life has not stopped him from exploring what’s outside the box; with an imaginative personality, Nathan Havenaar is up for anything. Nathan has a unique taste in all things art. He has a love for many different types of music, ranging anywhere from jazz to rap. While he doesn’t mind the newer stuff on the radio, he leans more old-school. His current music fixation is A Tribe Called Quest, a rap/hip-hop group from the late 80's and early 90's. When asked about modern tunes, he responded, “I prefer something else. Something that feels put on and relaxed.” For people just tuning in, he suggests their song “Jazz (We’ve Got).”

In terms of style, Nathan draws inspiration from many places. He identifies 2020 as a year of major evolution for him. Like many people, quarantine gave him lots of time to experiment and try out new things. Tyler the Creator became a point of reference for Nathan, with his swaggy street-wear and loose skater-inspired outfits. In line with these vibes, Nathan’s go-to for any outfit now is jeans and an interesting shirt or jersey. For a full-circle moment, his shoes even match his music. He cites A Tribe Called Quest as an inspiration for his New Balance-clad feet, with the band sporting them themselves and even writing lyrics about them: “You wanna diss the Phifer but you still don't know the half/ I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path.” While all of these inspirations are important, they don’t inhibit Nathan’s style from evolving: “They inspire me, but I'm not always thinking about it all the time…And plus, I'm figuring out my own style all the time. It's constantly changing.” 

In a similar manner to his style, Nathan’s aspirations for his life are out of the box. After Hackett, he plans to go into meteorology or something with astronomy. Learning about these subjects intrigues him. He describes the unimaginable size of the universe in comparison to a human: “It kind of makes you feel insignificant…there's like so much out there really.” But this insignificance does not scare Nathan. Instead, it’s a comfort. These new possibilities are exciting and full of promise, much like his future. 

As he heads into bright years, he should be confident in all his potential. His friends, Julia and Lily, echo this same idea, calling him “an amazing fellow.” Nathan is motivated and ready to take his New Balance step forward into the future.