Leilei: Welcome back to our Transfer Talks Podcast. My name is Leilei and I am a Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor. We have a very special guest here with us today who's really interested to share their transfer experience with us.

Griffin: Yeah, so I'm Griffin, Griffin Ricci. I'm a Bio major. I came from ASU and I'm dual majored with Bio Education as well.

Leilei: Nice, great. So how about we start with some this or that just to kind of like smooth into it? How do you feel about that?

Griffin: That sounds good.

Leilei: Sounds good. Okay, so sun or snow?

Griffin: I like the snow actually.

Leilei: You're gonna join it?

Griffin: This year has been brutal because it's like, it's sleek so it's worse. I don't know, I wear Crocs a lot and then my socks get wet so that's kind of brutal.

Leilei: He said even with the snow, I'm still wearing my Crocs.

Griffin: Oh, you gotta commit.

Leilei: Oh my gosh.

Griffin: It's a statement.

Leilei: Oh my gosh. Well, I'm surprised even with the snow you would still prefer some snow over the sun.

Griffin: No, yeah. Being in education has been rough this year because obviously we work with the schools and they've had, at Flag High they've had 12 snow days this year. And so that's been like, this semester.

Leilei: Aren't they at their max right now?

Griffin: Yeah, they are. They're already talking about makeup days and stuff. So it's been really rough with that. But other than that, no, I think it's really pretty from in my apartment.

Leilei: See, it is pretty, yeah, from looking on the inside and then when you're there, it's like, okay, I'm gonna go back inside. And as a desert rat like myself, I'm from Yuma, Arizona. I don't know if you know where that is. 

Griffin: No, I do, I'm from Buckeye.

Leilei: It is straight-up desert. Oh, okay. Yes, then you know what I'm talking about.

Griffin: Yeah, I know exactly.

Leilei: Straight up desert and I've never missed the desert more than ever.

Griffin: I really go in waves though, because it'll by Summer I'll be like, oh man.

Leilei: Yeah, see, it's like, we go the extreme. I don't know if it gets to like 120 over there too, for you guys.

Griffin: No, it does. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, like it's already hit 100 once in Buckeye this year, which is, that's pretty gross. But like here, I like it because it's safe 70, 80. It's gorgeous up here no matter what time of year.

Leilei: It really, it really is. I mean, it's hard when the snow's covering it, but even with the snow, it's still pretty. I get what you mean. And I mean, that's part of the reason why I came here, because it's like, I need to change a scenery like now, but it's crazy too with such a dramatic weather change. Like Phoenix or so is like two and a half hours away.

Griffin: Yeah. 

Leilei: Totally different weather compared to now.

Griffin: It's like you hit a certain mile on the drive and then suddenly everything's different.

Leilei: Yeah, it's kind of crazy. Okay, so the next one, morning classes or afternoon/evening classes?

Griffin: I got stuck with a lot of mornings last year. Last year my schedule was brutal. I had like a couple of 8 AM labs and stuff, but I prefer afternoon, it just never shakes out that way.

Leilei: I felt that. And it's like, you kind of want to get it over with, but do you feel like you're more of a morning person?

Griffin: No. 

Leilei: Yeah, so it's like we want to be, but it just doesn't happen you're a night owl.

Griffin: I definitely aspire to it, but yeah, I'll be up at like three in a five hours to class. It's so hard counting it right then.

Leilei: No, for real. For real.

Griffin: Because then you're like, well that's like four hours of sleep max, like good.

Leilei: Better than yesterday, right? No? We're spending records. Hey, day by day, right?
Day by day.

Griffin: It's incremental.

Leilei: Literally went to bed. I mean, it's kind of cute right now, but I went to bed by 1:30, I mean, that's like nothing. When you think about it as night owls, like ourselves, but like I'm trying to limit myself.

Griffin: That's the dream.

Leilei: But like, did I get as much done? No. I mean, if I stayed up till three, yes I would have, but would I have gotten enough sleep? No. So it's like a depends on what you feel, I guess. 

Griffin: I was good about it for a week. And then spring break happened. So I was, it was 12 every day. And I was like, over finally some progress.

Leilei: Didn't you feel good about it too?

Griffin: I felt amazing. And then yeah, spring break happened. I was like, oh.

Leilei: Was it just spring break or was it those snow days too?

Griffin: Those, yeah. Cause the start of the year, I definitely had the aspiration. And then, you know, first-week loss. And so like I never got set up. And then finally, once I did, they're like, oh, you know, I'll take a week off, take a hike.

Leilei: This is when we say, you know what? Next year. Next year. I'm coming after you. 

Griffin: You graduate before that.

Leilei: New milestones, right? Okay. So, NAU gold or NAU blue?

Griffin: I like the blue.

Leilei: Oh, I am a yellow person. So I'm going gold. Why do you like blue?

Griffin: I like wearing blue more.

Leilei: Really? I was like, you're not wearing blue right now.

Griffin: No, when I, when I wear like gold or yellow, I have a bunch of like, I don't know. I buy every color for myself. And I'm still like, I'm wearing black or blue. So it's, or gray and like, you know, but yeah. It's a, I don't know. That's, it's just what I gravitate towards, I guess.

Leilei: Yeah. Yeah. Would you like, is there anything? Let me like turn off the ring on my phone. But is there any colors that you don't usually wear that you're kind of noticing that you wear in these days? If you know what I mean? That's kind of like a complex question.

Griffin: Definitely like green or brown. I feel like moving up here, I've like gained a lot of appreciation for like earth tones.

Leilei: Yeah. Same here. There's something about like a maturity into that. I definitely feeling the brown on that. There's like, I'm like, you know, there's certain shades that we like to, we're not like the basic kind, but like the ones that kind of go off of it.

Griffin: I never would have known as many types of browns, but I didn't live up here, but I feel like it's different, because like the people when I went to ASU, like, cause I mean, after I graduated right at the start of COVID. So like, I kind of had to rebuild my fashion sense from just like being a slug all day. So, but at ASU, I was like, I didn't feel the inspiration. And people here, I feel like they have better fashion. So I don't know. The NAU dip is real.

Leilei: That's one point for NAU. Yes. And I'm noticing that too. I'm also trying to up it, but it's also like, it's kind of hard to keep up sometimes. And then you want to do that's for you, not because everyone else is wearing it, you know? And do you feel like you finally found like your, I mean, your style?

Griffin: Yeah, I go in and out like, it's, and you're going to, you're going to raise an eyebrow. Cause I said, I like this snow, but in the summer, I'm so much better dressed.

Leilei: You just, you've mastered the summer clothes.

Griffin: Exactly.

Leilei: The summer fits, right?

Griffin: I'm in the valley like you don't have a choice. It's summer all year.

Leilei: We don't wear pants all the time. We don't wear sweaters. We're figuring stuff out. These layers are pretty new for us. So there's some people that literally have it so figured out. And I'm like, oh, gosh.

Griffin: Yeah. I know a ton of people from Alaska. I'm telling you, you already had like, you had an advantage.

Leilei: Did you get some inspiration from them? Like, tell me your way.

Griffin: But ask even like what types of coats are real? Cause you can buy like a hype jacket and it doesn't actually help with the cold or anything.

Leilei: You want an affordable one as well. Or like something worth the price, you know?

Griffin: Definitely.

Leilei: Yeah. I'm glad you got some inspiration off of that. Who would have known Alaska, right?

Griffin: The pipeline is crazy. I know so many people from Alaska.

Leilei: Really? Like go here?

Griffin: Yeah, exactly. It's so bizarre. Like through work or just classes. Like I talk to people, where are you from? Alaska.

Leilei: You like can't like everyone, that's what I love about these campuses is that people are from everywhere.

Griffin: Yeah, definitely.

Leilei: Moving on to the more lighthearted questions. So what do you like about campus/the NAU environment?

Griffin: Like I kind of already talked about, I just like the vibes here are better, to be honest. I was a, when I went to ASU as a business major and that was very like, you know, people were hustling I guess is the, the close we were.

Leilei: The program's really big over there.

Griffin: Yeah, it's huge. It's massive. And that's why I went there. I was like, cause I didn't really know what I wanted to do at that point. And I didn't like now obviously I'm in science and in education. So I feel a bit more passionate about what I'm doing, but there I was kind of doing it for the money, which would be something I don't advise because it's hard to care, especially during, cause everything was online too.

Leilei: I feel like we start there, you know, we start naive.

Griffin: Definitely.

Leilei: You know, we go for the paycheck. I mean, when I chose physical therapy as my career, I know what the salary is. I know.

Griffin: You know where it is.

Leilei: I know, I know what it is.

Griffin: I've, I've changed major twice though, cause I was, I was business accounting. And then I came here and I started, like I transferred as a business student. And then I did my first meeting and I was like, oh, I'm actually, I would like to do bio-med.

Leilei: Oh, that's like a huge shift.

Griffin: Yeah it was massive. So like that's why I'm like a semester behind it. I figured out how to pick it up, but the scholarships for education are really good. It's obviously the paycheck's bad. So you gotta, you gotta balance it out somewhere.

Leilei: Yeah.

Griffin:But yeah, definitely. I like, I like the, it's a lot less, the pacing is nice. Like I feel like I can have like conversations with people that aren't so career oriented and people aren't like, oh, well, you're a freshman, but in your first week you need three internships and like all this and that. Like it's definitely still there. People are like helping you advance yourself, but it's like, it felt a lot more competitive and kind of a way that was detrimental to like, the way I can enjoy it. Cause I still wanted to enjoy the experience. Like, yeah, obviously I'm here to get an education and get somewhere, but it's really tough when people are like, it's just, it's easy because people are kind of emphatic about how ahead they are.

Leilei: There's a difference between being competitive and wanting to be better than you, like compared to like being competitive and wanting to make you better.

Griffin: No, yeah, like a healthy rivalry is great. Yeah, like there's a ton of classes where we're talking about exam scores and stuff. Cause that's kind of like how I am, but I don't, I would never be like, oh, you know, you might as well drop out.

Leilei: They would say that, oh my.

Griffin: No, it was brutal. And I don't know if that was, I was just talking to the cutthroat people.

Leilei: I wonder if that's just the norm over there, you know, but I'm not gonna say it. I've never been so, you know.

Griffin: It's, I think that might just be like the way, cause ASU is massive, right? And NAU's not small, but it's definitely like proportionally. Yeah, it's, you know, kind of dropping the bucket. So it's, it's just been nice. I feel like I can just like pace my life how I want to here as opposed to like being, feeling so driven to like not enjoy the early adulthood experience. You know what I mean? I think I would have lost those years if I'd stayed.

Leilei: It should be fun, you know? It should, you know, we have to enjoy the process. And, you know, like you said, there's like a healthy kind of like productiveness or, you know, where people are being competitive, but like they shouldn't have to tear you down. And you should have feel that way in your major.

Griffin: No, I feel like they're, yeah.

Leilei: If you know what I mean. Yeah, so I'm glad like you feel pretty good. It's been, did you transfer, when did you transfer?

Griffin: I was, I came in as a sophomore.

Leilei: Oh, the sophomore?

Griffin: So yeah, after my first year. It was plus, I'll be honest, freshman year when it was all online was rough. I don't really feel like I learned anything.
And so, you know, they already have the climate of like, oh, you're, you know, you're starting behind. And then to feel like I didn't learn anything, I didn't gain anything from my first two semesters. I was like, oh.

Leilei: They really put the guilt on you. You're just like, yeah, like I had control with COVID. You know, like we all did.

Griffin: I think NAU's for me.

Leilei: I'm glad that we like help you feel better about that. I'm so sorry.

Griffin: No, I was just, I was also kind of like done with the valley. You know what I mean?

Leilei: It is city life too. So this is all, again, like what, you along with like a whole bunch of other transfer students that I've like interviewed, they consistently say the vibes. Like I feel like it's the, just the best way to just essentialize, yeah.

Griffin: It's so unique. It's a very unique place. And I like, I've been here a couple of times before I lived here and it was, I mean, you know, I just, like I said, I gravitated towards it. So it's, it's been, it's been lovely.

Leilei: Yeah. And I could relate the same way. I mean, where I come from, I'm like, did I just grow up with, with like, we mean people, you know, like people are over here saying hi to me and I don't even know them.

Griffin: Like me, you know, I have one lab with somebody and then I'll see them on campus and they're like rushing over like Griffin, what's up? Oh my God. Okay.

Leilei: You're just like, wait, is it me?

Griffin: That's, yeah, everybody's friendly.

Leilei: Yeah. Yeah. And you know what? I'm really glad that you're having like a positive experience so far compared to like former experiences and everything. We love that. We love that. Okay. So moving on to the next one. So since you transferred here, what is your favorite memory so far being at NAU?

Griffin: I would say, because my first semester, that was the Fall of probably 21. And I was, I was bio-med. So that was really tough. But then the next semester I switched to bio and then also the education because they were, they did, when I was in freshman classes again, because I transferred into like an entirely new field, they advertised education program and talked about it a lot and the benefits. And so I switched into that. And then also, like I said, I switched just to bio instead of bio-med. So that was really cool. And then at the end of that year, obviously when you're teaching and you do lessons and stuff and that's really stressful. And then also just like the end of finals week, everything had kind of come to a conclusion, all the stress was gone. And I just like sat out on a North Quad with my girlfriend and had a bagel. And I just like laid back and like looked at the breeze go through the leaves.

Leilei: Why does it sound so peaceful?

Griffin: It's so memorable. It really was like, I was like, I'm in the right place. You know what I mean? It felt great. It was, it was a little spiritual. It was awesome.

Leilei: You already, once you said bagel, that was like, that was it for me. I was like, wow.

Griffin: You know, I love a good bagel.

Leilei: You make me think of a time that it was literally like after class with my friend and he got Einstein's and we're just sitting on the grass and we're just like, this was nice.

Griffin: Yeah, no, it's good. Like I said, I don't, I mean, I didn't have that at ASU and I'm sure there are people that do, but like just enjoying the outdoors here and like being in Flagstaff, being able to like, you know, the North Quad is like, it's crazy the biodiversity there. Like everything is just, I love Flagstaff. I could talk to you about it all day.

Leilei: Yeah, yeah. And we love that. We absolutely love that for you. So moving on to a more serious one. Are you ready for this?

Griffin: I think so.

Leilei: I don't have tissues with, oh my God, look, it's right there.

Griffin: Okay, so we'll definitely reach for it if we need it. My resilience is going to be tested.

Leilei: Make that both of us. I'm an extremely emotional person. So let's see how this goes. So what was your experience like at your previous school? So we did actually talk about that a bit. So yeah, we actually already talked about this, like your experience and then just like how you transferred. So I guess, and you already compared to like how they're different, right? Unless you want to kind of like go over that one more time.

Griffin: I don't honestly, I feel like I've slandered ASU.

Leilei: Yeah, I was like, dude, you ahead of me! How could you? Okay, we're going to go to the next one. Okay, there we go. So what types of programs, departments, people have helped you throughout your transition? There we go.

Griffin: Okay, well, definitely I've had like a sequence of great advisors. So even when I was just like an accounting major coming right in, like the advisor I spoke with was very helpful. And it was just a Zoom call when I was still in the valley before I moved up here. But I was just like impressed with how helpful she was because I had the advisor I had at ASU was like the president of the department as well as just by chance. And that was, I was surprised by how little I got like communication wise. So definitely advisors have been a huge boon here. And then...

Leilei: You've had your taste of different advisors because you've switched your major several times, you know?

Griffin: Yes, yeah. So when you switch to education, there's like pretty much one person that you're going to get. And even she has changed. Now it's a, it's Shepherd, shout out Shepherd. He's really cool. And I feel like I bother him because I'm always emailing him. Like am I doing everything? So I don't want to graduate late, you know? Like I love the place, but I would like to be in grad school.

Leilei: That's their job to help you out, you know?

Griffin: No, I can't put that pressure on myself. Like, oh man, I'm making him earn his wage.

Leilei: Darn it, right?

Griffin: No, but that was, I mean, that was huge. And then like I said, and I'm sure I've been pretty redundant on that as well, but switching to education, it's like if, I'm going to say, if you have a passing interest in it, because I'm dual major, like, because I still want, if I still want the opportunity, like if I say I want to go to med school or something, obviously that was the original plan.

Leilei: Are you perhaps thinking of teaching?

Griffin: Yeah, no, of course. So the way it works, there's this scholarship that will pay for everything that doesn't get paid for by other scholarships that isn't like books or housing. So it's the Arizona Teachers Association, and they pay, and I'm not gonna, I'm gonna sound like an ad. It's a really good opportunity. 

Leilei: Call them at this number at this email. 

Griffin: So as long as you're in an education program. You could, like I said, it's a great opportunity. And so I did that because I, at ASU I had a great scholarship, and then here, just to transfer Jack, was not gonna cut it. And I didn't really, like it's a hassle to apply for them. So I was like, if they'll come to me, like I'm in.

Leilei: Say less, right?

Griffin: So I did that, yeah, exactly. And I, you know, I kept the bio degree, still doing that. So that's why I've been, you know, it's like 20 credit semesters for me right now. So that's kind of tough. But yeah, so being in that education program, like if you're, I would say if you're in Chem or you're in like any science, try that, because it's the way, the structure, the difference in structure. Like I feel like I didn't talk to anybody in my classes outside of like doing work, a group or whatever. But it's really like tight knit. And I've heard about that, like at every level of it, obviously I'm in like the junior senior level of it now. But yeah, it's, the people and the professors are just awesome. Like I haven't had one that I've had disdain for and they're really helpful. And I kind of just encourage you to better yourself in all forms of learning. Like I'm really into the, I guess the psychology of learning the like the neuro-science. 

Leilei: The behavior and choices.

Griffin: Exactly. And I think that's why like I care about education and I care about encouraging people to learn. And it's great to have professors and just peers and friends that kind of kind of concur with me. Yeah, cause like if you're doing education, you care about stuff like that, obviously, especially in Arizona.

Leilei: No, definitely.

Griffin: But like even in there, cause the ATA applies to anybody like out of the state too. So I'm again, people from Alaska or anywhere. So yeah, it's, it's great to see people that are that passionate, that come from another state to learn here because they've heard our programs great or whatever. 

Leilei: It's great to see it be acted upon, you know, instead of just talking about it cause that's one thing.

Griffin: Yeah, no, that's, that is another difference with a lot of education programs is like we get in immediately to the field and they're like, you have a good support system. So you're not going to be like, oh, you know, I'm screwed going into this. No, everybody's very, you know, encouraging and says, like, listen, this is going to be tense because in other places he wouldn't be in the field. You would student teacher last semester and then you're in your career and either you make it or you don't, it's sink or swim, but here you get eased into it. That's pretty characteristic of the program. So that's been just the people involved with that. Have been amazing.

Leilei: So a lot of people you're thankful to, it sounds like.

Griffin: Definitely.

Leilei: We love that spread, spread the love, spread the love.

Griffin: Absolutely.

Leilei: Would you say that's at most the people that definitely contributed to like your transitioning and you just feeling comfortable over on campus?

Griffin: Yeah, absolutely.The first semester as a bio-med, like I said, tough, didn't really talk to anybody. I didn't connect. I had, there was a chem professor, Dr. Matthew, and he mandated that you go to like one office hour. And I really liked that. And I was like, that's the only guy I can like really point out and say, like I had a strong connection with him. And it was just from that one hour. So I don't, I feel like I just connected people, like the more I get a chance to interact with them one on one, like it's so hard in a class. You ask a question, obviously there, professors aren't just there to orate information.

Leilei: Yeah.

Griffin: They have personality.

Leilei: They want to engage with you.

Griffin: Exactly. So I feel like that was very helpful in like kind of showing me what the nature of the classes I wanted to be in was.

Leilei: You feel like it was helpful because you transferred from ASU. So obviously the class sizes were probably dramatically different.

Griffin: Yeah.

Leilei: I'm thinking so, did you like that kind of intimacy? So like smaller groups?

Griffin: Definitely. Yeah. It was, I mean more obviously high school to college is crazy. Just going from like 15 to 230. And my school was tiny in high school as well. So it's like, I feel like I've had a chance to like ease into it with having the smaller education classes versus like the massive, you know.

Leilei: You've got to taste the both sides and now you know your preference.

Griffin: Exactly.

Leilei: And like you're, what is it? Your preferred like learning environment in a sense.

Griffin: Yeah. And so that like, honestly another thing that I kind of gleaned from that is that if I sit up front, like I don't give myself any excuses, you know what I mean? So I like, I love sitting up front. I love when the professor would know my face and if I go talk to them and they're like, oh yeah, I know exactly who you are, you know what I mean?

Leilei: See, and that's important too is that like you have to actually be willing to engage. Cause I mean, if like maybe people aren't willing to cause they're shy, that's fine. You know, you have to build your way up to it. But in order to like seek help, sometimes you have to make the first step. And was that always difficult for you? Or was that easier?

Griffin: For me it was pretty easy. I had a lot of experience with that in high school, just like, cause I was absent a ton. 

Leilei: High school days.

Griffin: Yeah, I was just like, okay, I'll skip this week. You know what I mean? But just knowing that those teachers were accommodating, there was no reason for me to assume that like, and obviously they kind of impressed me like, college is going to be, you know, you're going to die.

Leilei: Literally trying to scare us.

Griffin: Yeah, there's so much emphasis on the difficulty. And I really have never felt that, like obviously the course material, you know, your brain's developing, you can learn more. And so they're expecting you to, but no, I've been intimidated about approaching professors, but not through their fault, just from being like off date. But the worst they can say is no, you know what I mean?

Leilei: Exactly.

Griffin: I need an extension or do you offer extra credit? 

Leilei: You really don't know unless you try. And it's so scary at first, cause they're like doctors. Most of them are. And you're over here like, hello? You know, but like some of them are really down to earth, especially, you know, from my experience, especially here on campus. So yeah, you just have to give it a try. And yeah, worst case scenario, no. And then you just say, okay, all right, I'm gonna go eat something. They're probably not gonna remember you. So it's fine. But so great to finish this off. What piece of advice would you give to incoming transfer students?

Griffin: If I had to just pick one, I would say, like, as a transfer, you're gonna feel pretty isolated no matter what. Like I had a couple of friends from obviously being from the Valley that were here. My girlfriend was here. But I would say that it's important to just find, like whether it's in the curriculum or you join a club or whatever, just find a group where you like are at ease, I guess. For me, obviously that was the education program and that's still work and that's still studying. But it's just finding that, like you just need to find people that you can connect with cause that's like having a good support system.

Leilei: You wanna build your sense of belonging, right?

Griffin: Yeah, definitely. That's like that is, you know, first and foremost. 

Leilei: And if not through your program, you know, there's also like clubs. There's a lot of things to like engage with people and meet new people.

Griffin: Don't ignore the emails.

Leilei: It's so easy to.

Griffin: They're gonna say, hey, join this club. And it's like maybe one day, you know, that's it changes your life path. That definitely did for me. So it's, you know, that's very, that's something I would be very empathetic about is just paying attention to like the opportunities around you cause there's a ton here. And you may feel like it's a smaller campus. That's not gonna have as many resources, but we're definitely not struggling. I don't think, I don't think any of you is hurting for it. They just need people to engage. So.

Leilei: Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Yeah, you just have to be like, when he's brave, just kind of like try and get out of your comfort zone. And again, if you fail, you fail. Then you try again. Now you know how it is to fall and you just get back up.

Griffin: That's even why I signed up for this. Like two years ago, I've been like, no. I saw that you know, I was like, why not?

Leilei: We've all been there. We've literally all been there. So that's like really nice for us to relate on a certain level and just be like, well, I now do this and I tried that kind of thing.

Griffin: Yeah.

Leilei: Okay. Would you like to add anything else before we wrap it up?

Griffin: I'm okay.

Leilei: Okay.

Griffin: I think I said my peace.

Leilei: You definitely said a lot.

Griffin: I love talking.

Leilei: You said the whole script. I was like, okay. What didn't we talk about?

Griffin: Maybe I studied too well.

Leilei: No, you did great. You did absolutely great. So thank you Griffin for joining us today. We really appreciate you for coming in and sharing your experience with us. So yeah, thank you.

Griffin: Thanks for having me.