Leilei: Hello everyone, welcome back to our Transfer Talks Podcast. My name is Leilei and I am a Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor. Today we have a very special guest with us who is very interested to share their transfer experience. Keali: Hi, I'm Keali. I am a transfer junior and my major is Elementary Education. I came from Phoenix, like it's like Northern, Peoria, is what it's called, area. And I am just here to like go into teaching as the goal, but ultimately I have a really big passion with like working with kids. So I don't know what that looks like for me in the future. I'm really lucky to have the opportunity to be here under like a very blessed scholarship and like just further my like knowledge of working with kids. So I'm really happy to be here and really excited to like, it sounds silly, but to be a transfer. Leilei: Yeah! Keali: I like being a transfer student. Leilei: No, we're glad to have you here too. And I love the idea of you saying that you're proud to be a transfer student because I feel like we don't get that a lot. Keali: No, Leilei: You know? Keali: No, like I went. So I grew up like in a household where like college isn't really like a priority because a lot of people are like, I know so many of my friends were like, oh, like it was like no brainer. Like I had to go to university and I was very like lucky that like I had a family who was kind of like, as long as you go to school or go to work, like do whatever kind of deal. And I kind of just grew up as like, I'm not really interested in going to college. But then like as the time is clicking and like I was about to graduate high school, I was like I should probably go to like something, I don't know what to do. I'm going to like go to college or something like that. And like everyone just has like a negative stigma to it. Like a lot of people are just like, yeah, it's like just like high school part two and like, and I'm just like, why? It's just like weird that like people just so are very like, not like against it, but just kind of like see community college or just like transfers and just like, oh, ok. Leilei: It's like, it's like almost kind of hurtful. Keali: Yeah! Leilei: You know, it's like, I came, that's like my, that's my pathway here. Keali: Exactly, exactly! Yeah. Leilei: But that's what's like really cool about having a transfer program, especially because I know, I don't believe all universities have this kind of opportunity for you guys. Keali: Ok yeah, yeah, yeah. Leilei: But like we want to like better advocate for you guys. And there is a very big difference between you guys in first year, Keali: Oh, yeah. Leilei: As in like freshman. Keali: Oh, yeah. Leilei: Very big difference, you know, and we just happened to get the short end of the stick. Keali: Yeah, I always like, feel I like call myself the granny like in all of my classes because like I'm, I'm like graduating like Fall 2024. So like I'm like hypothetically like pushed back a little bit because of just the way I transferred here, just everything and just like how life goes. And I'm like in a class with a lot of like sophomores and juniors, but like they're like by like their age, Leilei: Yeah. Keali: They're sophomores. So like I would tell them like, yeah, I'm actually like 22 and they're like, what? You're 22? Leilei: Honestly though, what's even funnier too is that no one can tell how old anyone is here. Nobody. And honestly, I would not have guessed. Keali: Yeah. Leilei: I would not have guessed, so. Keali: I like don't expect them, but they're like the reaction that they're always just like, what? What are you talking about? Leilei: And you're like, it's not that big of a difference, but okay. Keali: Two years than what you guys are? Okay, sure. Leilei: You're like, I'm going to act like I wasn't offended by that. But it's okay. Keali: We're going to move on. Leilei: Yeah. Okay. Well, glad to have you here and not just for this podcast, but just NAU in general. Keali: Thank you. Leilei: So how about we get started on some questions? Keali: Perfect. Leilei: And we're just going to start with like this or that, just to ease into it. Keali: Okay. Perfect. Leilei: But so, um, Fall semester or Spring semester? Keali: I like Spring. Okay. Listen, I like Spring semester because I feel like it's just that satisfaction of knowing that the school year is over with. Leilei: I actually never thought about it like that. Keali: And like the Summer is coming and it just like feels like an accomplishment. Like fall semester is like an accomplishment, at least for me, like this was my first year. Well so far, this is my first year at NAU. So like Fall semester, you're like, oh, I did it. Like that was like a huge thing. But like Spring is like when I'm like, I did it. Both: Like I actually did it. Keali: So I like that. And the anticipation of like Summer is just a lovely, I love it. Leilei: Well, speaking of Summer, how, how much do you want it on a scale of one to 10 at the moment? Keali: One to 10? Leilei: Yes. Keali: I would say an eight. I love the snow. Leilei: Really? Keali: Okay, this is my first time ever experiencing snowfall. So I'm getting like the like huge, like just like history, you know, Leilei: You got what you wanted. Keali: You know, so like I, it's fun when it's fresh. It's terrible when it's like my car's stuck and I can't go to work and the schools are shutting down. So I can't do like any of my practicum or any of that stuff. And then like ice. I hate the ice. But like if it was like how it fell on like the grass and stayed on the grass, but like wiped out everywhere else, I probably would say like, I love it even more. Leilei: I think the Ice really like us. They just keep bringing us closer to them. Keali: Seriously. Leilei: I know, I know. Keali: So, but yeah, I'm kind, I'm getting sick of it. No offense. No offense. Leilei: I do not blame you. Like you said, we are setting records this semester and I thought the pandemic was enough. But you know, it's okay. Keali: Yeah, right? Leilei: It's okay. Keali: No, seriously. They're like Keali, this is your first time ever experiencing snow? All right. We're going to like just hit you like on the side of the head with it. Leilei: And you know what? Now that we're halfway, hopefully, less. Keali: Right. Yeah. We'll see. Leilei: I think I need to find some wood to knock on. Keali: Right. No, seriously. I'm like, at least before Spring Break, so I can get out of here safely and not be stuck. I'll be fine then. Leilei: I would just really like to have some sunshine when I graduate. I don't know. Maybe it's too big of a wish. Keali: No, that's so true. Leilei: I don't know. Keali: Especially like graduation photos. Like I think snow and graduation photos are fun. But like if it's like the leftover like brown chunky snow. Leilei: See, see. You know what I mean! Okay. Moving on to the next one. Morning classes or afternoon slash evening classes? Keali: Morning. I'm a huge morning person. Leilei: I'm so jealous. Keali: Huge. Like, I work, I only work two days a week, but I work at seven in the morning. So like I get about like six and stuff like that. And I can, it's like a blessing in the curse, but like I can like wake up and just be like, ahh! And just like how I am now. I can feel like right as I wake up in the morning. Leilei: On the first try? Oh my God. Keali: Yeah. Yeah. Leilei: Literally this morning I was fighting my eye muscles. Keali: I have my moments, but majority of it I can just be like, ahh! And so I'm like, Leilei: See now, I have to ask if you're a morning person, when do you go to bed? Keali: It's changed since coming here in a way where I started going to bed a lot later than I usually did. I probably would blame my boyfriend for that because we're long-distance. So like around the end of the night is like when we get to like catch up and talk to each other. And he like is a night owl. So like he can keep me up all night. So I would say last semester I would go to bed maybe around like 11, midnight. Leilei: Oh, what a rebel. Keali: But yeah, no, right? But like now this semester I'll like catch myself like taking like melatonin at like eight and I'm like, I'm knocked out by like 8:30. Like it's bedtime. I need to go to bed. Leilei: I'm a hundred percent just like your boyfriend, a night owl. I like it's like 10. I'm like, I can stay up. Keali: No. Leilei: I can't convince myself. Keali: Well, like there's like a part of me after that. I'm like sitting there. I'm like, I think and I look at the time like it's only seven. Like I have so much time left. Leilei: Exactly! Keali: But like back then I'd be like it's seven. I'm calling it quits, like good night guys. So, I'm glad it's like good balance. I guess sometimes Leilei: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're testing the waters a bit, right? Keali: Yeah, seeing what I like. Leilei: Yeah, exactly. Here, next one, more with like the light-hearted questions. What's your favorite memory, being at NAU, so far? Keali: Hmm. Well, so far definitely like the friends I would say I've been making. I live in Taylor Hall, so like I'm having like the real like experience of like living in a dorm and stuff like that. And the first person who ever talked to me, she, I was moving in with my grandpa and she just came up to me and was just like, Hey, I have an extra bottle of Lysol. Like, do you want it? And I was like, Oh, sure. Leilei: And that's how the friendship began. Keali: Literally, she's my best friend up here. I love her. I die for her. Like she's, Leilei: Aww. Keali: Graduating this semester and I was like so upset about it, but she's still like she's going to stay up here. Leilei: Oh! Keali: So I was just like, yay. So like, I would say like the friendships I kind of just blossomed really early on has been like my favorite. Leilei: It's the ones, it's the ones you don't expect. Keali: No, seriously, I was like, it was so funny because my grandpa was just like never thought about it. So then like I go see him and I'm like, Hey, remember that girl? Like that very first person who talked to me when I moved in, like I'm like, we're like this, like we're like this. Leilei: Aww. Keali: But I would also say like snow, like I was like, like on the topic of like weather, like snow, like seeing snowfall for the first time, like it was like such a huge experience for me. Leilei: It's, it's honestly beautiful. Keali: It's so beautiful. And just like watching it, like I could just like look at the window and just like sit there for hours. Just watching it fall. Leilei: You're like the main character, right? Keali: Yeah. I'm just like oh my gosh. I'm like sitting there like, oh, like I was just like so excited about it. Now I'm kind of like, okay, but like seeing my first snowfall, like that was really special to me. And then my friends were like, we're going to go, like let's go play in the snow. Like Keali's Leilei: Aww! KealiL: never done that before. So let's go like do a snowball fight, like build a snowman. And I'm just like, like, yay! All giddy about it. Like a little kid, I love it. It's so much fun. Leilei: I love that for you especially when he said like you're used to snow. It's like you're comfortable with it already. Keali: Yes. Leilei: And then you have like friends to add on top of that. Keali: Exactly. Leilei: That definitely helps with a smooth transition. Keali: Yeah, definitely. Leilei: That's what happened with me. If I wasn't paired up with a roommate that I love to death, I would die for her as well. Like I don't know where I would be. Keali: No, definitely. Yeah. I'm like sitting here. I'm like, I got so lucky for like coming up here. I'm like, I'm so grateful. Leilei: We don't take it for granted. I've heard so many roommate stories. I'm like, I am so sorry. Keali: Seriously. Yeah. I'm just like, I'm so lucky. Yeah. So lucky. Leilei: Yep. We don't look back. We're just like, it happens. Keali: Like she's my bestie! Leilei: So moving on to the next one. Tell us a little bit about your experience from your previous school. Keali: So I went to Glendale Community College and I didn't go to the like main campus. I went to the North Campus. So like that alone was already like so small. Like people, you know, I like would feel hurt when people said it was like part two of high school, but like it probably was smaller than my high school. So like I'm kind of just like, okay, like fair, but like don't say that to me. But it was like, all right. COVID happened like in the middle of like, I want to say it was my first year. So like that kind of changed a lot about it. And I really just didn't know what I wanted. I didn't know what I wanted to do. Like if I wanted to go to university, I genuinely never saw myself being here, being at NAU alone, like ever. So like, I was just very like confused, I guess you could say around that time, but like I got my Associate's in Art. So it was very explorative, Leilei: Yeah. Keali: Like super explorative of a degree. So I was able to take so many different like fun classes. Like I took Geology because I love rocks. So I was like, sure, why not? This is so much fun. And I went there previously, like with the mindset of I need my Associate's just to have the degree because I want to go into the law enforcement. Like I was obsessed with like the idea of going into law enforcement, which like looking back now I'm like, why? Why was I? It's probably because I had an obsession with like the show Cops and like Live PD. Leilei: I was thinking it had to be something like that. Keali: I just like was just like, wow, on TV, it's great. So I want to do it. And then like I want to say like after like my first semester, I was like, I don't want to do that. So shoot, like what am I going to do? Leilei: She's like, okay, plan C. Keali: Exactly. So I think I took online classes for the rest of the like time I was there just because it was still like wishy-washy with like COVID and stuff like that. And I was like, I since everything's already online, I just want to just take online courses where they're already online. So this doesn't change much for them. Leilei: Yeah. Keali: But I started exploring in like Child Education and like Child Development. And I took like a like children's literature class because for some reason, like I can't even like explain it. But for some reason in the back of my head, I was like, well, if I did want to go to university, I know it'd be something relating to like working with kids. So like, let me just take these classes. And it really benefited me. Like when everything with NAU just kind of fell into my lap. I like did that. I'm not sure what it's called, but it's like the transfer where you like put all your credits and it like tells you like what percentage of the degree you've completed. It said for elementary ed, I had 50% completed like without me even like trying. Leilei: Wow. Keali: So I'm very fortunate with my time at Glendale, especially because I was under a scholarship where they like fully paid for like my tuition like all I had to pay for was books and stuff like that. And I'm really glad I just did that because even though I'm here and I know what I want to do and I have like a good feeling of like what I want my career to be, I didn't like about like a year ago, maybe even less than a year ago. And so like going to a community college really like helped me be like putting like taking classes and like getting that experience and trying to like give myself time to like think like what do I want to do? Like kind of just exploring without like the commitment, I guess you could say. Leilei: No, like I totally that's what a lot of us transfer students have in common, at least the ones that attended community college. Keali: Yes Leilei: Mostly those ones, but like it's the pace. You know, and like I said commitment too. Keali: Yeah. Leilei: Like we're not totally ready for that. Keali: Yeah. Leilei: We're not just gonna throw ourselves into that. Keali: Yeah. Leilei: Because I can, I can totally bet you that most of the students that go right after high school feel that they have to. Keali: No, definitely. Leilei: You know, and they should also be given the opportunity to think about it. But I know everyone has different circumstances. Keali: Oh yeah, for sure. Leilei: So we have to account for that. Keali: Oh, totally. Leilei: But like if you're given the opportunity, you know, and you're able to destigmatize it too. Keali: Exactly. Leilei: Yeah. You'll look back and you'll be like, that was a good idea. Keali: Exactly. Yeah. Because it's just like, I like the biggest thing for like transfer people that I'm very passionate about like coming from a community college and like telling people like kind of just changing that stigma. Like we keep talking about, I'm really passionate of just being like, I mean, it's not for everyone. Like it's different for everybody, but also like don't like it's, if that's what you need to do and you choose to do, do it and like take like gratitude and doing it and enjoy your time there. Like, yeah, it's only two years, you know, and like maybe when you transfer to a university, that's only two years, but like it's still like such a beautiful experience, I guess you could say. And I just learned so much about myself, about life, you know, you're going on like 19-20, like when you kind of start like at community college. So it's like, that's a lot of like adulthood you're starting and a lot of just change. Leilei: It's a really big transition period. Keali: Yeah, exactly. So it's just like it was good, like, I guess like put it kind of like tapping my foot into the water kind of deal. And then like once I was like, yeah, I like working with kids, like that's a no-brainer kind of deal. Then I was able to come here and like pursue that more and like get more of like an education and stuff like that. But yeah, I'm very grateful for my time there. I wish I did more like extracurricular stuff and stuff like that. But I was also kind of just like, I don't know what I'm doing with my life. So I kind of made that a priority. Leilei: Yeah. Keali: More than anything else. Leilei: Yeah, and that's totally fine. But like now being here at NAU, how has like your experience changed? Keali: Oh my gosh. Well, okay. So it was like maybe a year ago, maybe like two-ish years ago, my family kind of just thrown at me saying that they were thinking about moving to Texas. And I was like, oh. Leilei: You're like that's far. Keali: Yeah. I was just like, I don't know if that's for me. And so I kind of was just like, well, I don't know what I want to do and stuff like that. And like I said, NAU kind of just like fell into my lap. And it just like was just everything like roommate went by super smooth, like choosing my classes. And like the fact that like I was done like 50% of the degree I was wanting to pursue, like it just all very like interconnected very well. Leilei: It was all falling, coming into place Keali: Very much so. Leilei: You know? Keali: Yeah. And so like, wait, the question's like? What was my? How has my? Leilei: Like how has your experience changed? Because you've had an experience at your community college. Keali: Yes. Leilei: And you've had experience here. Keali: Yeah. Leilei: So how do they differ in this in a sense? Keali: I think just in the sense of the size, like a lot more opportunity for sure. I've never lived on my own also. So this is my first time like truly like kind of living on my own and kind of like venturing out in the independence, which is something I was planning on doing already. So like I said, it just all kind of just like fell into my lap. I would say like, I have branched out more like myself, like I have caught myself doing a lot more things, like being a part of like many different things or just putting myself out there more than I did at my community college. And I think I've just grown a lot. Just I think it just comes with age as well. But like, I just noticed that there's just a lot of like, I guess personality change and just like the way. Leilei: What is it? Character development. Keali: There you go. Yeah. Character. Exactly. So like I've noticed that while I'm here and just like realizing how much I do love Flagstaff as well. And I love being in a university setting. Like I've just never pictured that I'd be here. Like if I told like my like 10-year-old self that I was here, I'd, they'd be like, what? What are you talking about? There's no way. And NAU has always been kind of like a dream school for me so. Leilei: Look at that! Keali: So like, I'm very happy to be here and like very glad that like I'm making the most out of it because I wish I did that with my community college. And so I'm just glad that that transferred onto here and I'm able to just branch out more and do more and be on my own and just like enjoy it here. Leilei: And that's definitely something that you've gained being a transfer student. Keali: Oh, 100%. Leilei: For sure. So going on to the next question. With everything that has been said, what do you wish people understood about the transfer experience? Because like we talked about earlier, there's a big stigma about it. Keali: Yeah, I think like one thing, I think this comes also just in general, but like there's like, I would say there's like a low-key competition type of feeling to just like getting a degree. Like I would say like, it's like whoever gets it the fastest, you know, whoever gets the best degree or the highest paying degree and stuff like that. And so like, sometimes like how I shared about like when I would tell people about how old I am, you know, I was in a class last semester where like my whole group, they were all 17 and I was like, I'm 21. And they were just like, what? You know, so like, I feel like I wish people just like understood that like, it doesn't just go high school to university, you know, it's different. And this is just to people too who don't go from high school to university or whatnot, just people's like schooling experience, education experience, just life in general, it's just so different. And that's nothing to just be like weirded out about, I guess, Leilei: Yeah. Keali: Or just to be like, oh, like my experience is better than yours kind of deal because it's just like, there is no competition in this. I'm going to get a degree so I can get a career at the end of the day that's going to happen. Leilei: We're going for the same thing. Keali: Exactly. No matter how old I am, like whatnot, I, you know, like I'm following my passion, like you're following your passion, you know, and so it's just like, I just wish that people kind of are just like, they saw it and they're just like, that's awesome. Leilei: Like be more mindful of it. Keali: Exactly. Leilei: Right? Keali: And just be like more like, not like curious, but just not like, oh, so you have no idea or like, you don't understand or all this stuff. Leilei: Yeah. Keali: Just not like feel embarrassed to tell people that I'm a transfer. Leilei: Yeah, because there's a lot of transfer students that are a little bit like, I don't want to reveal that, you know, Keali: Exactly. Leilei: Like that's going to make them think of me a certain way. Keali: Exactly. Leilei: And we really want to get, we really want to get rid of that. Keali Exactly. Leilei: And it doesn't take just us, it takes everybody, you know, and that's what we really like about having this program, having this podcast, Keali: Oh, definitely. Leilei: Especially to talk about and share your stories so people know. Because how else, how else are they going to know? Keali: Exactly. And it's like, especially like if people feel the same way or like think the same way like I want to be able to like be sure to like be like, it's okay. Like I'm happy you're here. Like I'm proud of you. Leilei: You're doing great. Keali: You're doing great! Exactly. So it's just like to be sure that they get that encouragement because like I never did. It was always just kind of like a, like kind of, oh, okay. Leilei: See, in that way of life, that philosophy of like giving you better than what I kind of got. Keali: Exactly. Leilei: Kind of like concept. That's beautiful. Keali: Yeah, exactly. So yeah. Leilei: Okay, well, great. So that's all the things that we're going to talk about. Thank you Keali. I got it, I got it! For joining us today. We really appreciate you for coming in and sharing your experience. Keali: Yeah. Thank you so much.