Nate Dobbels is vice president of the Government of the Student Body and a senior in agriculture and life sciences education.

What is your favorite memory of college?

I will always remember winning my first intramural T-shirt. Although it was not your typical sport, I still won. It was in coed ping pong. I like to think we were the “Cinderella story” when we lost our first game of the tournament but won every game after that to win it all.

What is your favorite thing about Iowa State or Ames?

I actually enjoy the weather. Some people don’t like the fact it changes every day, or even every hour, but I like to see things mixed up. When things stay the same, I get bored. I like not knowing what is going to happen on any given day.

Where is your favorite place to eat in town?

Hickory Park is, by far, my favorite place to eat.

How was your freshman year?

My freshman year was filled with the excitement of starting a new life and the fears of leaving my old one. I knew I would be taking on many challenges. I had my ups and my downs, but through it all, I had a great first year at Iowa State.

What was the most embarrassing moment of your freshman year? Did you make any silly freshman mistakes?

The most embarrassing moment of my freshman didn’t come until December. It was my birthday, and I was excited to only have one class. I went to my class and was walking back for lunch when I made the mistake so many students do on our campus. I didn’t watch where I was going and slipped on a nice patch of ice. I looked around to see who had watched the epic fall and noticed a tour group walk right past me. Although I was embarrassed at the moment, I can look back and laugh now, as I am one of those students giving tours and it makes for a great tour story.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

Never look back on the decisions you make. Be proud of who you are and always stay true to yourself.

When did you know what you wanted to do with your life? When did it click, when did learning become fun?

I still don’t know what I want to do. There are so many options and things to do and only so much time to do them.

How did you get where you are now in your career?

Working hard and believing in myself has helped me become who I am today. The foundation and structure provided to me by family and friends has been a key part to my success. Agriculture has always impacted my life and helped me find my passions today.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love meeting people. I enjoy talking with others and helping students every chance I get.

How did you get where you are now in your career?

Working hard and believing in myself has helped me become who I am today. The foundation and structure provided to me by family and friends has been a key part to my success. Agriculture has always impacted my life and helped me find my passions today.

Describe your job. What are your duties?

As vice president of GSB, I help run the largest student group on campus. We allocate funds to student groups on campus and help fund many of the services on campus. I serve as a resource for students and am chair of the senate. I spend most of my time in the my office or out meeting with groups, students and ISU faculty and staff.

What is your biggest goal for next year?

Helping students is the broad goal. More importantly, I want to help students understand all of the resources available to them on campus. We have so many great things at Iowa State that many students don’t even know about. Encouraging people to attend events, get involved on campus and discover what they are truly passionate about are only a few ways I hope to do this.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

Meeting new people.

What are your must-do and must-see things for students? What does a student have to do before they graduate? Before they finish their freshman year?

I really don’t think there is anything we all must do. We are all here to make our own decisions and see what happens. Everyone is different, so do whatever makes you happy and never be someone you are not.