Leilei: Welcome back to our Transfer Talks Podcast. My name is Leilei and I am a Transfer Peer Mentor. We have a very special guest here with us today to share her wonderful transfer experience. Yeah. Megan: My name is Megan Greenspan. I am a sophomore transfer student. I'm a Psychological Sciences major with minors in Queer Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, and Music, and I'm originally from South Dakota, but transferred from a small school in Minnesota. Leilei: Sweet. So then I have to ask because I'm so sorry that I assumed. Can I ask what your pronouns are? Megan: Yeah, she her. Leilei: Okay. Megan: You're good. Leilei: I was like, why did I say she? I was like, I never do the pronouns. Megan: No, you're good. You're good. Leilei: Okay. Okay, great. Thank you. We can leave that in. Okay. Okay. So to start off, just some light-hearted questions. We don't have to go deep. Not yet. Let's just start with the surface. So North or South campus? Megan: North campus. Leilei: How come? Megan: It's so pretty. Leilei: So pretty. Megan: It's so pretty, especially like when it's all green and nice out. Like I remember the first time I came to campus, I did a walk and found North campus and just sat down and like. Leilei: It's been a while Megan: Yeah. Leilei: It's been a while since it's been green. Megan: I know I miss it, I miss it so much. Leilei: I don't know when it's gonna happen, but it has to before, you know, I mean, I'm planning to graduate this semester. Megan: Right. Leilei: It's gotta happen. Megan: Eventually, it's coming. Leilei: Exactly. I actually prefer North as well. But that's just my bias because most of my classes are here. Megan: Right that makes sense. Leilei: So I'm barely in South. Do you have a lot of classes in South? Megan: I have a lot of classes in SBS. So it's like. Leilei: Oftentimes. Megan: Yeah. Leilei: Oh, then you've been on the crowded buses before. Megan: Oh, it's lovely. Leilei: It's lovely, right? Megan: I love it. Leilei: You might as well just stay on, right? Megan: Right! At that point, it's just like a wrap-around and just wait and wave at people as you see them. Leilei: Love that. Don't even take a seat. Just stand. Megan: Just stand and like, you're not moving anywhere. Leilei: Oh yeah. Megan: And the squeeze when you have to get off. Leilei: For sure. Yeah, I can get really hectic during like certain periods of the day. Megan: Oh yeah. Leilei: That's where you want to avoid. Megan: Right. Leilei: But okay, so how about Fall or Winter? Megan: Fall. Leilei: How come? Megan: After this winter I mean, I'm like, I'm from the Midwest, so I expected a lot of snow. But like, I haven't seen this much snow in years. Leilei: Yeah. Megan: It's kind of been a little difficult. Leilei: I'm honestly, I'm a desert rat at heart. So like, I was like, oh yay, snow, amazing. And now I'm over it. Megan: Right. Leilei: And I have this thing where it's like snow is cool until it's not. Megan: Right. Leilei: And like it's already been like not okay for like the past couple weeks. Megan: It's like the fifth blizzard in. It's like, it's time. Leilei: You know, like it's nice to have canceled classes, but then it's like, my routine is gone. Megan: What routine? Leilei: No control whatsoever, but it's fine. Megan: Right. It's okay. Leilei: Love that. Megan: It's fine, it's fine. Leilei: Love it. Absolutely love it. I honestly prefer Fall too, because I really like those happy medium weathers, you know, like you can wear like the cute scarves. Megan: Right. Leilei: And I mean, you can do that in winter, but like you're not also like freezing. Megan: But like if I'm wearing a skirt, like my knees won't get cold. Leilei: True, there's like a happy medium. I'm about that. Spring. Spring would be my go-to, Megan: Absolutely. Leilei: But after that is Fall. Megan: Absolutely. Leilei: Okay. So moving on after, let's go with what is your favorite memory being here at NAU so far? Megan: I mean, just overall, like, I was in marching band my first semester. Leilei: Oh my god, no way. Megan: Yeah. Leilei: Me too! Megan: Really? Leilei: Yeah. Megan: What did you play? Leilei: A flute. Megan: I was euphonium. Leilei: We love that. Megan: Yeah! Leilei: But you're brass. I mean, I guess that's okay, whatever. Megan: But yeah, I mean, like that was like my first intro and like getting to know my friends there. And like, I mean, I met like my friend who I'm moving in with next year with her roommates. And it's just like, that's where it all started. And that's where my friends came from. And it made everything so much better. Leilei: They all came from the marching band? Megan: All from marching band. Leilei: That's where all my best friends are from too. Megan: See, it helps. Leilei: But so you have like might you're really good friends in marching band. Megan: Right. Leilei: Same here. Same here. Megan: It's just a nice little community. Leilei: I love that. Do you miss, are you, are you part of the Lumberjack Marching Band here? Megan: Mhm. Leilei: You are. Oh my god. Yes! Oh yeah, you were just talking about it, too. Megan: Yeah. Leilei: Sorry. I think I like spaced out. Megan: No, you're good. Leilei: But like, so how do you feel about like that experience? I know you met great people in it. But so like, you know, how did it help you transition? Megan: It was, it was like that kind of ideal where like, you were forced to get to know people. Leilei: Yeah. Megan: It's like you were forced into a situation where you're seeing these people like for a majority of the week, and you're spending long hours with them. And like for me, like at my old school, I was that person, we didn't have a lot of activities. So I would just like stay in my dorm and keep to myself. And that was all fine and dandy. I didn't really have the opportunity to go out and do things. So that forced me to. And that's how I made such connections I did. Leilei: And then like, you know, with COVID still being kind of recent, like that's probably what you were doing around that time. Megan: Absolutely. Leilei: Everyone was just kind of like, I don't have those social skills anymore. Megan: It was weird because you're like, this is like, like going back to kindergarten, like you have to learn how do I make friends? Like, how do people, I know people like me things like that. Like that just readjusting to all that again. Leilei: Yeah, when you meet like those right people, it helps like such a smooth transition, feel like more comfortable where you're at. Megan: Exactly. Leilei: Like I had that experience with my roommates. I was really lucky to be with cool people. I've heard a lot of roommate stories. And I'm just glad I'm not part of that. Megan: Right. Leilei: Population. Megan: Right. Leilei: In a sense, but I'm glad that you made some good friends through that. We love that. Band! Yes to band. Megan: Love Band. I tell you. Leilei: I kind of thought about it, but I'm like, I'm not as passionate to do it. But like the fact that we have a band, here a marching band, I'm like, hell yeah. Megan: No, and like, it's a good marching band too. Like I was actually really surprised coming here. I'm like, gee! Leilei: You're actually like the third person I met that's in marching band as a transfer student. Megan: Really? Leilei: Yeah. I think I met one is a trumpet player. And then the other one, trying to remember what instrument he played. I do not remember, but I've met three of you so far. Megan: We should start a club! Leilei: Honestly, you need to connect. Megan: I mean. Leilei: Just be like who's a transfer student? Like everyone. Megan: Everyone raises their hand. Like, ahh, that makes sense. Leilei: Well, there we go. Okay. So moving on to the next one. What do you like about the campus slash like the NAU environment? Megan: It's just like such, like a chill vibe and everyone's just so nice and chill. Like, I don't even know how to describe it. Like, like minutes, like minute going from school in Minnesota, like Minnesota is nice and all you have is saying like Minnesota nice, but it's like a forced nice. But like here, everybody's just so chill and the community is just like, so go with the flow and it's so friendly and I just love it. Leilei: Sometimes I feel like that's the best way to describe it because a lot of people have just said vibes. It's a very consistent vibe. Megan: Vibes! Leilei: No, because that's for me. I'm like, it just feels right! Megan: Right! Leilei: And I can't even put it into words and like everything like you were trying to put together words. That was it. Megan: Just chill. Leilei: Exactly! Megan: You just feel it. Leilei: And that's when, that's when you know. Megan: Exactly. Leilei: You just have like a gut feeling about it. We love that. Megan: It’s perfect. Leilei: Okay, so moving on to the next one. What was your experience like at your previous school and what is your experience like transferring to NAU? Megan: Yeah. So my old school, it was a small little Catholic school in the middle of nowhere and we only had I think 1200 students and originally going there, it was like, I want a small school. I want a nice school like because I come from a small-ish town compared to like Phoenix and stuff like that. So I'm like, I don't, I don't want a big campus and as soon as I got to the small campus, I'm like, this isn't for me. And like I kept pushing and going thinking like this is how college is supposed to be. This is how it is and it was in the middle of COVID. And so trying to get used to that and being away from home, it was really hard. But I just kept telling myself like this is what it is. It's fine. And then at the end of school, they cut all my programs because we were such a small school. So that's when I made the decision like, okay, I have to transfer. And I was lucky because my sister actually goes to a school in Phoenix. And she's like, I know of this school. I was going to go here if I didn't get, go to this school. So I think you should really apply. When I applied and it was a complete Hail Mary, I had never been to campus. I had never been, I've been to Flagstaff once driving through. It was just like, I was like, I hope this work. Leilei: You're just rolling the dice on that. Megan: I mean, and I just lucked out. Like, it was terrifying coming here because I'm like the first time I'm ever going to see this place is when I move in. And like, I don't know what I'm getting into. I've never seen the campus. Leilei: But you know, having been like, how long have you been here at NAU? Megan: This is my second semester here. So I started in the Fall. Leilei: Nice. So having two semesters in, how do you feel about it now? Megan: I made the right choice. I wish I would have done it sooner. Like, I made the right choice. I love it here. Leilei: I love that. Do you have, what is it, do you have like another, is this your last semester? Do you have like another? Megan: I have another year. Leilei: Okay. Oh my gosh! Megan: Another year. Leilei: Plenty of time. Megan: Yeah. Leilei: Plenty of time. Megan: Yeah. Leilei: So, yeah, love that. Megan: But I'll stay here for my Master's as well. So, I'm in here for the long haul. Leilei: Yeah. But it seems like you're enjoying it so far. Megan: Love it. Leilei: So we're good. Megan: Yeah. Perfect. Leilei: But what is it, comparing like your experiences from where your community college was and to where you are now, like, how are they different in a sense? Megan: It's just like a completely different atmosphere. Leilei: That was a good word. That was a good word. Megan: Thank you. I try. But no, it's just like completely different. Like, it was such a small, tight-knit school where it felt like you had to fit in a certain way to be able to fit in with the group. And I couldn't find my place at that school. And it was really, really hard for me to cope with that. But like coming here, it was like automatic, like with a band and stuff, it just clicked right away. And like I felt so at home more than I ever did at my old school. Leilei: And it was natural, right? Megan: It was natural. It was like, I don't have to force anything. Leilei: Like, is this how it's supposed to be? Megan: Like all this time. It was this easy. I just didn't know. Leilei: It was meant to be. Megan: It was. I'm quite content. Leilei: I love that. I absolutely love that for you. Megan: Thank you. Leilei: Well, so moving on to the next one then. How do you feel about being a transfer student? Megan: It, it's, I love it. Honestly, I wouldn't have asked for anything else. Like, I'm glad I had my old experiences from my old school. And I had that and was able to come like take it and come here with it and have those mentalities and know what I need to do and just take it and run. Essentially. Leilei: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And like, you know, having been a transfer student for, you said two semesters now, how do you feel about it now compared to when you first started? Megan: So much more comfortable. Leilei: So much, how so? Elaborate on that. Megan: Well, I think like at first being a transfer student, like all my friends thought I was a freshman. So it was just like. Leilei: No one can tell how old anyone is anymore. Magen: No right. So it was like, once we got established that I wasn't a freshman and I actually kind of knew what I was doing, like had college under my belt a little bit. I think just like sinking into that and going into like, okay, this is a new place, but I still know what I need to do academically to get in my zone and find my vibe. Then it was just so much easier. Leilei: Yeah totally. Nice. So like, you know, would you say that like you feel proud to be a transfer student? Megan: Yeah, Leilei: I was trying to think of the question. Megan: Yeah, no, no. Leilei: Would you say that? Megan: Absolutely. Leilei: Yeah. Megan: Like I said, without previous experiences at my old school, like I wouldn't be the student I am or I probably wouldn't have this experience that I have here at NAU without it. So having that transfer experience. Leilei: What do you feel like you gained out of being a transfer student? Megan: Definitely perspective. Leilei: Yeah. Megan: Perspective. And it really made me learn to take more risks because this whole situation for me was a risk. Leilei: Yeah. Megan: Really like lean into that, and trust my instinct. And like if I like, if I'm unhappy with something, just learn like, it's not for the rest of my life, like I can do something to change that. Leilei: It's not the end of the world. Megan: Exactly. And it just helps. Leilei: And experience does come with that. And you do have to take risks and you totally did. And it was successful. Megan: Right! I was lucky. Leilei: She said that was intentional. Megan: Absolutely. Leilei: Also then kind of like putting everything together and like talking about your experience. What is like one thing you wish people would understand about the transfer experience being a transfer student as a whole because I know there's a there's stigma.. Megan: Yeah. Leilei: You know, we're not your Megan: Normal college Leilei: Your normal standard traditional students. So like, what's something that you wish people would understand about it? Megan: I think, ooh. Leilei: Yeah. Megan: That's a good one. I think just a lot of like, like transfer students, like we bring more to the table. I would say like, like I said, we have different experience and we went through different situations. And I would even argue like we may have seen more things than like the typical freshmen coming in. So I think like really leaning into that and showing that we have a lot to prove and have a lot to offer. I think really Leilei: Yeah. Megan: Makes us special and makes us contribute a lot to especially the atmosphere at NAU. Leilei: And what's something that you'd want to wish to fellow transfer students like yourself, maybe ones that are coming in for next semester? Like what's something that you would recommend them to do? Megan: Just have fun. Just, just do it. Like it's going to be scary and it's going to be intimidating. But like find a community, find like transfer mentor like either like Transfer Jacks or like a hobby or clubs, something. Find your niche, find your place, and just lean into it and find those people and it'll make everything so much easier. Leilei: Words of wisdom right there. Words of wisdom. Megan: I try! Leilei: Well, so that's pretty much all that we're going to talk about. I just want to say thank you, Megan, for joining me today. We really appreciate you coming in and sharing your experience. Megan: Yeah, thank you so much.