Tiff: So, hi, I'm Tiff. Thank you for joining us for the Transfer Talks Podcast.

Samuel: I'm Samuel Boggs. I'm a senior here at NAU. My major is Secondary Education in History and Social Studies, and I'll be graduating in Fall of 22.

Tiff: Congratulations. 

Samuel: Thank you.

Tiff: So we're going to just jump into it. So can you tell me what you like most about campus or just NAU in general?

Samuel: Yeah, absolutely. Most I like about NAU campus in particular is, I think that it really suits Flagstaff. I think it matches really well with the environment around it. Everything is just a few blocks away really, it seems like. And then everything, like the activities that they run at NAU are awesome as well. You don't even have to be involved in a club. You can just show up as long as you're a student.

Tiff: Do you have a favorite event that you went to?

Samuel: I think Homecoming Week had some really cool things. I enjoyed, I enjoyed a lot of the, build your own plant like today, but mostly, the thing I remember the most is the roller disco night they had. That was awesome. I'm all for skating on wheels.

Tiff: So tying into that, do you have a favorite memory at NAU?

Samuel: Along with what I just said, I would say, yeah, just making memories with the people I met in general, having those close connections, and then participating in things like NAU intramurals, like the sports things that they had, things around that.

Tiff: I see. So what do you wish people understood about the transfer experience?

Samuel: Yeah, I wish people understood that around the time of your first semester or your first year, you're at a slight disadvantage a little bit because you don't have that close-knit group of friends that you made in NAU dorms. You're not familiar with your environment or the city that the college is located in. So you're kind of just learning a lot on your own in those first, especially those first few weeks of school.

Tiff: So did the Transfer Jacks Program help you a little bit with that?

Samuel: Yeah, partially. It definitely gave me a slight agenda, something to do every Tuesday for Taco Tuesday. That was always something to do and come in and visit with you all. I know I had a meeting or two with a Peer Transfer Mentor and that was pretty helpful as well because not only were they also a former transfer, they were also someone of a similar major as me as well. So that was even cooler to get to talk to someone in similar shoes.

Tiff: I see. The same for me. How do you feel about being a transfer student in general?

Samuel: I feel good. I'm happy about the path that I took. Given the financial situation coming out of high school, I would say it was definitely the right path to take, for me personally at least. It's something unique to bring to the table as well. A lot of people just are from somewhere in the state of Arizona and have been here all four years. When I like
to say, yeah, I came from out of state, I went, actually, I also went to community college in California as well. So that's even something else that I was able to accomplish.

Tiff: I see. So what was your feeling about it when you first came to NAU compared to now?

Samuel: There was a lot to look forward to when I first got here. I had a close friend of mine from high school that was here at the time. He was about the only person I knew really. And I knew like instantly upon moving here, the environment, all the trees, it's not something I'm used to seeing, but I fell in love super fast. So I knew there was a lot to look forward to. I had never snowboarded once before. And now I have been for the past two years looking forward to it, once again this year. And now at this point, I haven't been here as long as a lot of other students, right? We're only here for about two to three years when everyone else has been here for four. But even in that short time, I already feel like such a tight-knit part of the Flagstaff community in general.

Tiff: Yeah, that's nice. That's what I love about NAU. It feels like a big university, but at the same time, not too big. 

Samuel: Yeah, absolutely. 

Tiff: So we're gonna do a this or that about NAU.

Samuel: Okay, cool. 

Tiff: So I'm just gonna give you like a couple of topics and you just choose. 

Samuel: You got it. 

Tiff: So, sun or snow? 

Samuel: Both. 

Tiff: Both?

Samuel: Both. Yeah, honestly. I like sun in the Summer and I like that balance of it's gonna get cold now. 

Tiff: Okay. 

Samuel: There's things to do both ways. 

Tiff: North or South campus?

Samuel: Um, live on South campus, go frolic on North campus, go into Old Main. 

Tiff: The North Quad right?

Samuel: Yes. 

Tiff: Morning classes or afternoon slash evening classes? 

Samuel: Definitely morning classes. 

Tiff: Morning classes? 

Samuel: It'll give you kind of a hard deadline of when to go to sleep at night, but being done early on in the day is a good time. 

Tiff: Yeah, I like that too, to be honest. 

Samuel: Oh yeah.

Tiff: And let's see, Union or HLC as a place to study? 

Samuel: Honestly, I had never once been in the HLC until like two days ago to study. I have no idea. 

Tiff: Okay.

Samuel: I only ever went there for the recreation center, but it was pretty cool. I'm not gonna lie. I think that one's less, there's more space to go to than the Union. 

Tiff: And let's see, Fall or Winter? 

Samuel: Fall, I would say Fall. I love Halloween. I absolutely love getting spooked. The sport of football is my favorite of all time, that happens in the Fall. 

Tiff: And last one, Fall or Spring semester? 

Samuel: Spring semester, because you have the Summer to look forward to. Clearly, I'm all over the place with my answers, but I love Summers as well. 

Tiff: That's true. Okay. So, this is pretty much it for the interview, and I just want to say thank you for being here and sharing your experience. We appreciate you coming in and just sharing your experience. 

Samuel: Oh yeah. Yeah, no, thank you so much for having me. I appreciate being here and being able to share.