Cora: Hi my name is Cora Brown and welcome to the Transfer Jack and Online Connection Podcast. This is our lovely guest today.
 
Aldon: Hello my name is Aldon Batiste. It's a pleasure to be here.

Cora: We're glad to have you here today, so I have a few questions for you. So what is your favorite memory being at been NAU so far?

Aldon: Well there's been about two or three memories. The first memory that I can really reflect on was when I first came to NAU in 2019. They had just started, ironically, they had just started the Buddhist Meditation and Wellness Club and so when I joined the club we had our first camping trip and it was one of the most unforgettable experiences with students that I had just met in the first semester. So that was a very great experience and my other experience is my trip to Costa Rica, which was a study abroad for the Fall semester of 2020, it was 2021 excuse me, and I was with 12 other students and it was, it was a life-changing experience just being in a different country. I served in the Marines, so I had the opportunity to do some traveling and things like that, so that was phenomenal.

Cora: Wow that sounds absolutely awesome, a lot of traveling and I'm glad that NAU was able to give you more experience to go and travel like study abroad.

Aldon: Yes it was a, it was a phenomenal blessing. When I first came I always wanted to go when I was taking Spanish classes and we had a advisor that would come to speak to us. And 2021 it actually happened.

Cora: Wow. I'm just curious, how did that work like during COVID?

Aldon: So I was supposed to, I was scheduled to go during 2020 but, I believe it was Spring 2020 but when COVID happened, oh it was Fall, but when COVID happened they said we could give me four options: either to do an online type of cultural thing, do study abroad, push it back a year, and I can't remember what the two other two options were but I just said I push it back a year since they had some more time and it was really important and imperative that I had these credits for my Spanish classes.

Cora: Wow. Well, that sounds awesome, and sorry that COVID kind of pushed it back a year, but you were still able to go so that's amazing.

Aldon: It was a blessing. It was a blessing.

Cora: So since you are a transfer student and close to graduating, by the way, congratulations, what is one piece of advice that you would give to an incoming transfer student coming here to NAU?

Aldon: The biggest piece of advice I would probably say is to focus on your mental and emotional health. When you're coming to school, especially a university coming from a community college perspective, it can be a bit more challenging, especially with the scholarships. I know I've heard some students taking up to 18 credits but when I first got here, I received a scholarship and I had to take 15 credits each semester and since I'm in a Political Science major it's very very reading and writing intensive which is very very draining. I have some perfection tendencies and which led to some very challenging experiences during the semester but I pushed through by sheer will alone and learned a lot of lessons so it's helped me with overcoming those tendencies and just enjoying experiences as we go through it.

Cora: Wow okay okay. So what type of program, department, or people helped you through your transition here?

Alodon: Wow, so first I have to give a big shout-out to the Veterans Success Center. I served in Marine Corps for 7 years and Laurie Jordan was actually the first person I met during the transfer visit when I came in 2019. And Pete Yanka who's the director of the Veterans Success Center, beautiful human beings. And in the Political Science department, Professor Gretchen Gee and Maiah Jaskoski were some of my favorite but also most challenging professors that I've ever experienced. So me and Professor G had a great, developed a great relationship when she found out I was a veteran. She was actually one of the first classes when I first came and attended. So they really helped out so much. And the Psychology department, I have to give a shout-out to two professors, Professor Emily Vogel who's in Developmental Psychology, and Sara Kien who's in Cognitive Psychology who have really helped me. I can continue to go on Philosophy is another one. Professor Russell Pryba, he really helped open and expand my mind to different philosophies and different perspectives of the world, which led me to finding Hinduism and resonating so much with that belief system and actually begin the practice of yoga daily. 

Cora: Wow, awesome!

Aldon: Thank you.

Cora: That's a lot of people to thank, well thank you too, and a lot of great professors here that seemed to help you succeed and have been there as your support. That's amazing.

Aldon: Outstanding! I am very grateful to, to really have the opportunity to not only take their classes but also talk with them outside of class, really get to understand their perspectives on life and the world, and really just kind of lean in on their expertise and use that as leverage in order to excel to the next level.

Cora: Awesome. Well, I'm very happy for you, that you get to graduate soon and all these people have helped you get to your great success and help you reach your degree. Moving on from that, we're going to start doing a this or that NAU edition so these are just some like fun questions that we had, so tell us which one you prefer and why. Okay?

Aldon: Okay!

Cora: So the Dub or the Hot Spot?

Alodon: I actually like the Dub better. I would say. And I, to be honest, I don't even go to the Dub often. I'm usually on North Campus, that's where most of my classes are, but I recently had an experience where I met some very interesting and welcoming individuals very interesting and welcoming individuals in the Buddhist Club this semester, and when I had a meeting with them at the Hot Spot it was a really really vibey, chill place where you know there's Subway, there's these other places, and it was just phenomenal place to sit and just relax and enjoy that.

Cora: Nice, okay. I have to disagree, Hot Spot. It just reminds me of a buffet. The Hot Spot is like a buffet to me!

Alodon: Nothing's wrong with it at the end of the day.

Cora: Yeah, no. They are both good food. So which is your favorite semester, Fall or Spring?

Alodon: I would, I would have to say Spring semester, mainly because we're leaving the cold and going into that warmer climate, and through that I like to wear athletic gear and so it's a, it's a great opportunity to not have to wear a sweater for most of the time and Flagstaff can get really cold and so me being from New Orleans, Louisiana, and serving in Yuma, Arizona, for most of the time, it's going from, it was a complete shock when I experienced the, it's like wow there's a lot of snow in Northern Arizona, you know. In Arizona, you don't expect a lot of snow but it's been, it's been a incredible experience.

Cora: There is a lot of snow here.

Aldon: A lot of snow.
 
Cora: Okay, and the last final question that I have for you is, which one do you prefer Homecoming or Family Week?

Aldon: I will say Homecoming. This is actually my first experience going to Homecoming this semester. I couldn't do it last semester due to Costa Rica but I, I love, the Veterans had the tailgating party and just going out there and seeing so many people just enjoying themselves and then watching a football game. I made it until the first half. It was a phenomenal comeback during that time, so I watched them score two touchdowns after they were down 17 nothing, and yeah it was, it was a, it was quite the experience seeing you know the two sides and, and teams going at it, they both play hard, and yeah that was a fun, that was a fun day. 

Cora: Homecoming is always so much fun, especially if we win. So thank you for being with us today. We appreciate that you come and share your transfer story with us. I really appreciate it.

Aldon: Thank you. I always appreciate these type of opportunities because it gives me the ability to share my experiences and offer some wisdom to students that, you know are coming in or who are already here as well. It's an honor, so thank you. 

Cora: Of course!