Jeanine: Hello and welcome back to the Transfer Talks Podcast. My name is Jeanine and I'm a Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor and joining me today is a lovely guest who'd like to share their transfer student experience with us. Maribel: Hello, I'm Maribel Cardenas. I'm an accounting major here at NAU. I transferred from community college in Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College and I'm set to graduate in December 2024. Jeanine: Cool. I know quite a few people that transferred from Estrella Mountain. Maribel: Really? Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: I feel like I'm like the first person that I, because I've met so many people and they're like oh Glendale, oh this place, and I'm like I'm maybe only like mountain lion? Jeanine: Yeah. Actually, a couple of former mentors have transferred from Estrella Mountain. Maribel: Oh okay. Jeanine: So I was like okay! Maribel: I think I need to meet, I need to meet those people. Jeanine: Yeah. Unfortunately, they're graduated. But it's okay. Mariebl: Oh okay. Jeanine: Yeah! But they're some of my good friends today so. Maribel: Okay good. Jeanine: Yeah. Alright, so we're gonna go ahead and jump into the questions. We'll start off a little light. Maribel: Okay. Jeanine: Okay. So this or that, NAU Gold or NAU Blue? Maribel: I'm strong on blue. I was raised in California so I'm a Dodger Fan. Jeanine: Oh yes! I love the Dodgers. Maribel: So I grew up strong with the blue. Jeanine: You know what, that's pretty fair. I personally like gold but you know what that's okay blue too. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: Yeah okay. Do you prefer North Campus or South Campus? Maribel: South Campus. I'm an accounting major so I'm always at the FCB, so definitely always, always over there. Jeanine: Yeah. Also always on South Campus because of business but I do like North Campus a little better. Maribel: Yeah, no, like I know I told someone earlier coming to these things to the transfer meeting and stuff gives me a reason to come to North Campus for sure. Jeanine: Yeah. Okay. Morning classes or afternoon slash evening classes? Maribel: I, I, see I have a problem with this one because I'm more, like is there a midday option? Because I'm not much of an early person but I also don't like to be out late obviously. But I guess if I had to like super choose would definitely be morning classes get them out of the way Jeanine: Yeah! Maribel: And then have like the rest of the night to do homework mostly basically. Jeanine: Yeah I do like the morning classes but I'm also not really a morning person. Maribel: Yeah same. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: Same. Jeanine: I'll do like a 9:30, that's fine Maribel: Yeah! No, Jeanine: But 8 o'clock absolutely not. Maribel: That's so weird that's the exact same thing for me. I'm like 8 o'clock why? And then you're like 9 o'clock? Yeah! That's fine. It's only an hour difference. Jeanine: I know! But then you know you can get up at 8 versus at like 6 or 7. Maribel: Yeah exactly which always like that's the same thing I think every time and I'm just like oh 6 o'clock. 7 o'clock? Maybe. 8 o'clock? Alright. Jeanine: Yeah totally. Okay, sun or snow? Maribel: I love the snow but this is also my first semester out in the snowy area but for the majority of days like I love to be at the beach so definitely sun in that case. Jeanine: I don't like the beach Maribel: What? Jeanine: Which is so ironic because I grew up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Maribel: Right. Jeanine: So but yeah I'm gonna be on that I prefer the snow. I mean not the snow the sun. Maribel: Sun, okay. Jeanine: Okay and then Fall or Winter? Maribel: Fall because you get those early signs of Winter. Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: We're getting ready to get cold so that's kind of like a preparation time. Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: So definitely Fall. Jeanine: Yes yes. Okay totally agree with you. Okay, so we'll get into a little bit more. So I know you said that you only transferred this semester but what has been your favorite transfer event you've been to so far? Maribel: I did the bowling thing so that was a lot of fun got to meet a lot of new people. Found out there's like a lot of people from California, which Jeanine: Oh, yeah. Maribel: I think is wild. I'm like why wouldn't you go to school where you're from? And then they're like it's cheaper and I'm like oh okay. Jeanine: Yeah that's what I heard too. Maribel: Yeah they're like I know it's not in-state tuition but it's still cheaper and I'm like that's so wild to me. But no I met a lot of great people there. Also as part of like the top three people in our bowling lanes Jeanine: Okay! Maribel: That was a lot of fun. Everyone's like you're good at bowling and I'm like I'm alright. You know they're like you're pretty good and I'm like well I guess sure I'm just trying to be humble and modest. Jeanine: Bowling is so fun. We did that with the rest of the mentoring team last semester. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: So much fun. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I love bowling. Maribel: I do too. Jeanine: Terrible at it but, yeah. Maribel: I'm like I'm decent at least. Jeanine: That's fair. Yeah. Waking up the next morning with like the pinching of your muscles. Oh, that's not fun. Maribel: It's just such a workout. It's so weird because you're like oh this is so relaxing and the next day you like super feel it. You're like I didn't realize I was doing that much for exercising. Jeanine: Yeah for no reason. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: For no reason. Yeah. Okay. And then of course so far what has been your favorite memory being at NAU? Maribel: So I joined the Future Business Women of America Club. Jeanine: Ooh! Maribel: So that's been a lot of fun. There's a lot of great, great people in that club as well. And I got the opportunity to go on the, go to the women's expo. Jeanine: Ohh! Maribel: Empowerment expo specifically in Phoenix with them. Jeanine: Okay. Maribel: Which was great because they noticed that I was like really putting forth an effort into the club. I'd only been to like two, three meetings I think at this point. And there were like an opportunity opened up. We know that you've been putting forth a lot of effort. So we're going to extend this invitation to you. And I was Jeanine: Aww, that's so nice! Maribel: Super happy with that. I was so glad because it was like oh, I know, I know that it's like, I'm a newbie and stuff and the fact that you guys are noticing this is like made me feel so much better. So that was a lot of fun. That was a great weekend trip with a lot of great people. Jeanine: What was that expo about? I've never heard of it before. Maribel: I guess it was our first year here in Arizona. Jeanine: Oh okay. Meribel: So they've traveled a lot like throughout the United States. But like I said this was the first year here. So it's called the women's empowerment expo. And essentially what it was was like a convention. Like a lot of business, women-business, business-owned. Jeanine: English is hard! English is hard! Maribel: A lot of women-owned businesses gathered together. So some of them had like tables where they were selling like their products you know putting, puttimg their businesses out there. And then others were actually giving out, were doing like talks and stuff. So they had different stages set up. And depending on type of business that they, that they owned they would talk at a specific stage. So there was some with like financial inquiries and stuff. And the one that I can remember the most is like the lady ran her own like tax, tax business. Jeanine: Ooh! Maribel: So she's out here doing taxes, people's taxes and like giving away free like free advice. Just like okay this is what you want to do. This is what you don't want to do. And I thought that was pretty awesome. And she was like super chill because when she was talking to us she was talking as if she was talking to her friends. I'm pretty sure there were a few cuss words. But no one minded she was she had the entire, the entire area like going. I remembered her the most. There were a few that were like how to put yourself out there kind of thing as well. This one I ended up following her on Instagram. Her name is Rachel Luba. And she is a baseball agent. Jeanine: Oh! Okay! Maribel: She went to school at UCLA, was a gymnast. Things didn't work out for her for the Olympics. So she, she went, she still wanted to stay in the sports type of thing. And she grew up with a lot of baseball people who are now playing baseball obviously. One of those is Trevor Bauer. Jeanine: Ooh! Maribel: So I was freaking out about that. So she represents Trevor Bauer and I was like alright, I'm going to find you right now as you're speaking to us. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: So it was a really good experience. I got to find out a lot of things about being a businesswoman in you know in a man-empowered type of situation. So it was really great. I really liked that. Jeanine: That's awesome! Maribel: Oh yeah. Jeanine & Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I found, I find that being within like the College of Business, right, there are so many opportunities Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: That they allow you to have. Maribel: Yeah, oh yeah. Jeanine: Like, I mean, the career fair, for one, they hold it once a semester. Maribel: Yeah Jeanine: And I regret this so much because it's my last semester here. Maribel: Okay. Jeanine: I hadn't gone to one until this semester. Maribel: Really? Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: Ohh, okay. Jeanine: I so regret not going to any Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: of the other ones. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: And I just, just even like being able to network Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: And meet new people. Maribel: Oh yeah. Jeanine: Kind of like get your foot in the door. Maribel: Yes. Oh yeah. Jeanine: But yeah if there's one thing I regret so much is not going to any of the career fairs in my previous semesters. Maribel: Okay I will keep that in mind because I definitely haven't gone to any of them yet. Jeanine: You know they're a little intimidating but I just, they're all so nice. Maribel: Yeah. It's, it's, it's wild to see them and then you're like oh yeah I don't know about this. And then you like actually like talk to them and like the nicest people ever. Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: So crazy. Yeah, that's essentially the experience I've been having so far. Jeanine: Yeah. Okay, so moving on into something a little more serious but what's a piece of advice that you'd like to give to an incoming transfer student? Maribel: Definitely don't be afraid to put yourself out there. When I decided to or when I finally got to transfer and everything, my biggest thing was I'm coming to an entirely new environment where I don't know anyone Jeanine: Right. Maribel: Whatsoever. And so I decided that as soon as like different emails started coming in you know different things that started coming in that were like hey do this, hey do that. I definitely put forth the effort to be like okay I'm going to do it. I'm going to put myself out there because mentally it's a strain on you. Especially not knowing anyone. Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: So obviously try to put yourself out there and like meeting new people. You don't have to make friends. You just have to at least meet people because that definitely helps out mentally and physically, if anything. Because then you actually have to go out and like physically go out mentally and you know and like I said physically and you just get to meet new people and you get to enjoy. You don't realize how much fun you're going to have Jeanine: Right. Maribel: Until you actually do the thing. The bowling thing was the biggest thing for me. As soon as I saw that I was like okay I like bullying. Okay, I'll meet new people. Jeanine: Right. Maribel: Definitely nervous about that. And I had just met Cora, one of the mentors, Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: The day before and she was like I'll be there and I was like perfect. At least, at least I'll know a face. Jeanine: Yeah see it's the nice thing too about coming to our events is that like obviously you're going to meet all the mentors Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: At some point, hopefully. Maribel: Oh, yeah. Jeanine: And even at that like we're all working at events. So you'll at least know one of us there Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: Which is the same exact thing I tell my students. If you're, you know, you want to come to the event, you don't know anybody. I'll at least be there. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: So come hang out with me. I love that you said that because I went to almost no events my first year. Maribel: Really? Jeanine: Yeah! Maribel: No, I definitely was like alright I'm going to do it. Jeanine: Yeah, no. I had like one friend because that was my roommate. And then she left the next semester and was like oh okay I'm kind of on my own now. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: But yeah, that was not. But I'm glad you were able to do that. Maribel: Thank you. Yeah, no, me too because I have three other roommates and it took a while to meet one of them honestly. Because I didn't know that they were them. Jeanine: Oh okay. Maribel: I would walk in and there would be someone there and I would be like oh it's just a friend of another Jeanine: Ohh. Maribel: Roommate. And it was it wasn't a friend. They lived there. Jeanine: Well, it happens. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: It happens. Maribel: So it definitely helps to say something. Jeanine: Yeah that's a new one. I don't think I've ever heard a roommate story like that before. Maribel: Yeah. Now we're really good, we're really good friends actually. Jeanine: That's good. Maribel: But yeah, no, before it was just like hi okay walk into my room and then realize that they, they didn't leave. They're still there. Jeanine: That's funny. I love that. Okay, so how do you feel about being a transfer student? So it's more or less your feeling from when you first came to NAU and then till now. Maribel: I was definitely nervous. That was my biggest thing because again, I was going into a completely new environment and didn't know anyone. Jeanine: Felt that one. Maribel: But again, I'm glad that I definitely decided to keep the mentality of saying yes to things. I think it's so funny because every time I say that I think of, have you heard the movie “Yes Man”? Jeanine: Yes. Yes. Maribel: And I think about this every time and I'm like okay don't get to the point where I'm going crazy saying yes to literally everything. Jeanine: Yeah. I mean, at least the opportunities that you can take on. Maribel: Yeah but I think it's just but also like I think that's healthy to think about that at the same time because, because then I'm like alright I know where my limits are. Jeanine: That's pretty fair. Maribel: But yeah no other than that I definitely think like obviously I was super nervous but I'm glad that I decided to say yes to even this honestly because this is something I would have never like actually done. You guys would have sent me an email and I'd have been like well we don't have to respond to that. Jeanine: Yeah. Stuff like this too is like completely out of my comfort zone and especially being, becoming a mentor. Maribel: Right. Jeanine: You know like we do a bunch of social media opportunities and whatnot Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: Like we've done takeovers on like the main NAU Instagram. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I'm like okay, that's kind of nerve-wracking. But I mean, they're great. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: They're great. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: Okay. And then one of our last serious questions I have for you today. If you could go back and change anything about your transition to NAU, is there anything that you would change and if so, what would it be? Maribel: I definitely wish I knew then I knew things then that I know now because there's so many transfer opportunities. Just opportunities in general when it comes to school. Originally a lot of years back because I am, I am, I am what do they call it? A non-traditional student. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: Years back I did go to school in California for like I went to universities. Jeanine: Okay. Maribel: And those didn't pan out so well this is actually I consider it my like third time around. Jeanine: That’s okay. Maribel: Because then I moved out here in Arizona and then I did go I was at Estrella Mountain. They have like a vocational school. Jeanine: Oh, okay. Maribel: Called Southwest School Center. Jeanine: Okay. Maribel: And I thought I was set to go into the medical field so bad. I was like let's do this. Originally when I went to university I was going to be a nurse. Jeanine: Ooh. Maribel: Yeah. Wild. And then I went to the vocational school and I was like oh Dialysis Technician that sounds so great. Help people clean their blood whatever. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: And then I realized I do not have the stomach for that at all. Jeanine: Oh gosh. Neither do I. Just like watching like, like House is like a really. I love that show. But I have to like turn away every single time they're doing something like nope. Maribel: Yeah. So, so I'm glad that I found that out eventually. I soon then for a while I started working and did up in a business office at a dealership in Avondale. And it was the best thing that ever happened to me because then that's what ultimately made me decide to go into accounting for reals. I was an accounting clerk for like seven years. Jeanine: Ooh! Maribel: Yeah. It was a while. So I for those last few years I was going to Estrella Mountain to get all my transfer credits and stuff. Jeanine: Right. Maribel: And thank goodness for the 2NAU program because that helped a lot. They were like you're basically in and I said thank you I'll take it. But no yeah definitely finding out and asking questions and redoing it older like you know you get your experience and stuff. But I definitely think that if people are listening to, the people who listen to this like before they even go into like super transferring and stuff they should definitely know that it's okay to ask questions. There are so many people willing to help you and there's so many different opportunities out there that will definitely help you in your transition. Jeanine: Yeah. 100%. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I mean that's why I tell everybody you know make sure you know and you're aware of what kind of resource, resources are available to you. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I mean bless my Academic Advisors souls. Maribel: Yes. Jeanine: Like the amount of questions that I have asked them Maribel: Yes! Jeanine: Over the years. Like oh my goodness. I have no idea if I would have gotten through college without them. Maribel: There's, there's, there are a few people I've met that are like oh yeah I've only seen my academic advisor like the one time and I'm like no you need to go to them at least once a semester. Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: Because you need to find certain things out like. I don't, I can't, I can't fathom how they are able to do what they're doing. Jeanine: Right. Maribel: Without that advisement because I think it helps so freaking much. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: So much. Jeanine: I mean I came to NAU as a communications major. So I transfer, I transition, changed, whatever the word for it is, my major during the pandemic because I came here like the semester before COVID hit. Maribel: Right. Jeanine: So I switch my major during the pandemic and I knew nothing about the business program here and I had like, had I not emailed an advisor just being like what do I need to do? Maribel: Right. Jeanine: I would have never known about the professional program. I would have never known about pathways. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I would have never known about just so many specific little things. Maribel: Yeah. Oh yeah definitely. Jeanine: Yeah. It's just crazy. Maribel: Yeah. But you know what? More power to them they're doing it that's on them but I definitely am that person is like at least see your advisor at least once a semester. Jeanine: Yeah. I agree. Maribel: Yeah. You definitely know certain things because, because then they'll, they'll even offer up certain things that you didn't even think about questioning at all. Like the business program, I was like I'm sorry what is that? Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: I was like I'm just here to talk about pathways. What are you talking about? So no, yeah, no. Jeanine: I got to get in to take all of my other classes? Maribel: Yeah exactly. No yeah no definitely like wait what no that's you're wrong. But no I think it definitely helps at least see them once a semester, so. Jeanine: Yeah especially to help you keep on track for graduation. Maribel: Oh yeah no seriously definitely because now I. That was another thing that I had a, I had an issue with. I thought I wasn't going to graduate till like December 25. Jeanine: Ohh! Maribel: It's a good thing I talked to my advisor this semester. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: Because she was like all right so we're set for December 24 but you can always push it to spring 24 and I'm just like I'm sorry what? No no, you're wrong. I still have till 25 and she's like no no, you still have till 24 and I was like 24 is pushing it enough December 24. We don't need to push it to Spring 24. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: So it's definitely a good thing I went to her. Jeanine: That's definitely. Maribel: No I'm supposed to be here for a whole nother year. What are you talking about? Jeanine: It amazes me the stuff that you find out. Maribel: Yeah seriously. Jeanine: I'm just curious though what are you looking forward to the most within the rest of your experience left here since it's your first semester? Maribel: That's a really great question. I think I'm looking forward to mostly being able to keep in contact with people. Jeanine: Oh yeah. Maribel: Because my biggest thing is like I've met a lot of people just within the few short months that I've been here. Getting a job at the FCB, so then I get to meet a lot of the faculty there and it's a lot of faculty that I'll be like taking classes with. Jeanine: Yeah. Maribel: That hlps a lot. So I think I'm looking forward to the most, most is that honestly, is keeping in contact with people that I know now. They're not necessarily friends but they're at least faculty. Jeanine: Right. Maribel: Because then I kind of have a like a foot, a foot in the door for like the classes that I'm set to take. Jeanine: Yes. Maribel: Like the next semester I'll actually be taking a class with someone who's technically my boss. Jeanine: Oh, fun! Maribel: Yeah. So I don't know if I should be like nervous because there's more pressure on me for that matter or if I'm I should be like at ease because I'm like I got this. Jeanine: Maybe a little bit of both. Maribel: Yeah that's I guess I'm like well I'll definitely find out next semester. Jeanine: Yeah. That's so awesome. Maribel: Yeah. Jeanine: I'm excited to see everything that you will accomplish. Maribel: Yeah me too, thank you. Jeanine: But that's all we had for today. So thank you so much Maribel for joining us today. We appreciate you so so much for coming in and sharing your transfer experience with us. Maribel: Thank you. I really enjoyed this. I didn't, I didn't know what to expect but it was, it was actually a lot of fun. Thank you. Jeanine: Yay, I'm glad you had fun. Maribel: Yeah me too.