WELCOME TO THE YARD:
NEW SPARTANS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES SO FAR
BY KIORA-ZORIAH POWELL
For Norfolk State University’ s Class of 2029, the first weeks on campus have been filled with excitement, adjustment, and new opportunities. Three freshmen Kamiya Clark, Nikela Martin, and Christopher Hankins shared their experiences as they navigate life as new Spartans.
Clark, from Lynchburg, Virginia, described her experience as“ great,” noting that she has become more social than ever and built lasting friendships. Agoge Week events helped her connect, and she particularly enjoys spending time in“ the Link” between Towers, where students play pool, sing karaoke, and even hook up a projector for Just Dance.
“ Communication gets you really far,” Clark said, reflecting on how she has learned to navigate both campus and relationships.
Martin, a Portsmouth native and member of the Ladies of Sparta dance line, said choosing NSU was about more than academics.“ NSU has always been one of my picks,” she said.“ I just love the family vibe it brings, and it’ s an HBCU, so who does it better than NSU?”
Though her busy schedule limited her Agoge Week attendance, she found the events she did attend to be both informative and fun. Balancing schoolwork and dance commitments, she emphasized discipline adding.“ My goal this year is to make a name for myself,” she said.“ Stay focused on the big picture and remember why I’ m here.”
Hankins, a Norfolk native and NSU’ s 2025 – 2026 Mister Freshman, highlighted the welcoming culture of Agoge Week.“ You can walk up to a random person and have a conversation with them, and they won’ t even trip about it because of the culture, the vibes,” he said.
He described the first week as an adjustment, citing the importance of organization, time management, and proactivity. Among his favorite moments was moving into his dorm, where he enjoyed the freedom to create his own space.
STUDENTS SINGING DURING ECHOLS CREDIT: MATT PATTERSON
“ Striving for excellence and not perfection … it keeps my goals realistic and lets me work toward becoming the best version of myself,” Hankins said.
From making friends and adjusting to campus life to balancing academics and personal growth, these three new students are excited to take campus by storm.
8 SPARTAN ECHO