Sophomore Nathan Feldman spreads positivity through UNC Snapchat stories

The UNC community knows sophomore Nathan Feldman as many things: a former pasta-serving community governor, an economics learning assistant and UNC’s very own Snapchat positivity influencer.

Feldman said they started posting on Snapchat more frequently after they were fired from their Ehringhaus Residence Hall community governor position.

Last academic year, Feldman said they held weekly “pasta nights” where they served dinners to fellow Ehringhaus residents to foster community.

After word got out that Feldman was accepting payment for the meals, they were removed from the position. Feldman said they weren’t aware housing guidelines prohibit the sale of goods in residence halls and said they only sought reimbursement to fund future pasta nights.

A petition circulated shortly after their removal, asking for Feldman’s reinstatement as community governor. Feldman said they urged fellow residents to let the situation go. 

“My whole goal when running for community governor was not to tear us apart by having us petition and fight, but to bring us together,” Feldman said. “I felt like that kind of pushback would only tear us apart more.”

That was when Feldman started taking to the shared UNC Class of 2027 Snapchat story. They said that instead of putting their energy into the governorship dispute, they wanted to focus on connecting with the entire UNC community.

Snapchat allows users to join their university’s or high school’s community after verification through an institution-issued email. Then, users can add temporary posts to the shared story that corresponds to their year, as well as view other classes’ stories.

A Jan. 23 story from Feldman reads, “Things don’t get easier; they get harder. You just get better at dealing with difficult things. So, make sure to find enough space to treat yourself with the kindness you deserve.”

“Their posts will get me at the right times,” UNC sophomore Elliot Worth said. 

Feldman said students who enjoy their posts often approach them in person and send supportive messages online.

“I look forward to seeing the smiles of people as I pass them by,” they said. “I look forward to seeing people respond on the posts, ‘Yes king, slay.’”

Feldman’s community government incident wasn’t the only time they turned a setback into an opportunity to spread positivity. 

Last fall, Feldman made an uplifting post on the UNC Snapchat story while waiting on their Kenan-Flagler Business School decision letter. When rejection came, Feldman said they cried harder than they had in years.

After realizing they weren’t alone in feeling disappointed, Feldman said they took to the UNC Snapchat story again — this time to share a message of encouragement with other rejected applicants. 

“I knew that people just like me were experiencing the same heartache and anguish and maybe didn't have that moment of someone reaching out to them saying, ‘I'm here for you,’” they said. 

As an undergraduate learning assistant for professor Robert McDonough’s Economics 101: Introduction to Economics class, Feldman helps with tutoring and holds review sessions for students.

McDonough said Feldman is as kind and thoughtful as they appear online. 

“When I heard that one of my ULAs was having these kind of Snapchat stories, it didn't surprise me to find out that it was Nathan,” McDonough said. “Really, it totally made sense.”

In addition to pursuing the pre-business track, Feldman majors in music and is a member of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. Their "big," or mentor in the fraternity, is UNC senior W. H. Hayes. 

Though he isn’t a frequent Snapchat user, Hayes said his fraternity brothers have shown him Feldman’s posts.

“I'd say they capture them pretty well,” he said. “That carefree attitude, that willingness to live their life that vibrantly and outwardly, no matter what other people may look at that as.”

Feldman said they took a Snapchat hiatus for about a month to prioritize their mental health. They returned to posting on Monday, Feb. 24.

“Make sure you’re being kind to yourself, okay? We’re all our own worst critics,” they wrote.

Feldman said they look forward to connecting with the campus community again.

“It's a silly little thing,” Worth said. “But when you're having a rough day and then open your phone and see something from Nathan that's like, ‘Just keep going,’ it's like, ‘OK, Nathan, maybe I will.’”

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