Tiff: Welcome back to the Transfer Talks podcast. My name is Tiffany Kim and I'm a Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor. And joining me today is our guest who would like to share their transfer student experience with us. Lauren: Hi, my name is Lauren Eisele-Yocum. My pronouns are they, them. I'm majoring in environmental science with an emphasis in biology and I am minoring in studio art. I'm originally from Tucson, Arizona and I'm kind of a non-traditional student in all senses of the word, so technically I'm a sophomore and graduating in May 2025, but that may be moved around, subject to change, I guess. Tiff: And Lauren is also scheduled to be on our team next semester as a mentor, so I'm really proud of them. Lauren: I'm really excited. I really am, so. Tiff: I'm so glad that you decided to try out and you succeeded. Lauren: Yeah, me too. Me too. Tiff: So we're going to jump into some lighthearted questions. Lauren: Okay. Tiff: So what do you like about the campus and just the NAU environment? Lauren: So, I really am attached to Flagstaff as a whole and I think NAU being kind of at the center of it is a really cool experience. Flagstaff itself is a really awesome community and I think specifically on the NAU campus you can really kind of tell. And I'm obsessed with the trees and being in the mountains. The snow is not super exciting, but I'm sure you would be hard pressed to find anyone who really likes being snowed on. Tiff: Yeah. Lauren: But yeah, those are probably my favorite parts about the campus. Tiff: I think you're one of my mentees who's like really outdoorsy, especially. I think you told me about your experiences as a firefighter. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: Could you tell me a little bit about that? Lauren: Yeah. So for the past three years now I've been a wildland firefighter in Northern Idaho and Western Montana. I've also done a wide range of service work both prior to even starting college, so I worked for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps for 10 months and that's actually how I got my start in firefighting. They gave me all the certifications and training, etc, etc. And then COVID hit, which kind of messed up a lot of things for a lot of people. But unfortunately, COVID does not stop fire, so we were redeployed. And then I wanted to like continue serving in a way and volunteering my time and giving back to the community. So, I actually worked in Flagstaff for six months after that first year with AmeriCorps and CCC. And I worked for the Arizona Conservation Corps and we built about seven miles of trail outside of Cottonwood, Arizona. It's called the Blow Out Wash Trail, so definitely go check it out if you're a hiker or an avid mountain biker. But yeah. And then every summer since then I've been, for like the past three years, I've been firefighting and I'm going back again this summer. I think it might be my last year, but we'll see. That's kind of... Tiff: That's an interesting story. You don't meet people who do that these days. Lauren: Yeah. I mean, like, I could really get into the nitty-gritty about why that is, but it is quite a long story and a lot of bureaucratic federal government stuff. Oh yeah. It's messy. It's quite messy. Tiff: Was that your first introduction to Flagstaff? Lauren: Yes. Well, so I'm from Tucson, but serving with Arizona Conservation Corps was probably my first experience like living in Flagstaff. Granted, I was living out of my car. Like, it wasn't... I didn't really have a place, but I mean, because we were camping for like anywhere from eight to ten days at a time. But like still being in the Flagstaff area and getting to know the area was really special. And I think now that I have like established some sort of life for myself here and like I'm going to school, I've really been enjoying Flagstaff even more. So, I think I might even like stick around after I graduate. Tiff: Sounds nice. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Tiff: Flagstaff is one of those towns I feel like you come here for some specific reason and then you end up staying because you've fallen in love with it. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: That's like for me. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Tiff: Because Flagstaff is not a big city, but not a super small town. Lauren: Exactly. Exactly. Tiff: And then the people here are very... What do you call it? It's not Southern hospitality, but Arizonin or... Lauren: Arizonian, I don't know. I think that's a good way of putting it. I think a lot of people that I've run into, you know, just, you know, I'm downtown studying or just in general are really kind and really nice people and... Tiff: Yeah. They give off that like family oriented feeling. Lauren: Yeah. I would agree. I would agree. Yeah. Tiff: But that's why I love Flagstaff and, you know, NAU. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: It's like you see new people every day. Lauren: Oh, yeah. For real. Yeah. Tiff: Alright. So we're going to go into a little bit more of a serious question. Lauren: Okay. Tiff: So what was your experience like at your previous school and what was your experience like transferring to NAU and how were they different? Lauren: Yeah. So I transferred from a really small liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest. It's called Willamette University. It's in Salem, Oregon. And I'm not going to lie. I had a really tough time there. I was... It's a private school, so it's really expensive. I was... There was a couple good things going. Like I was swimming for the school, which was really exciting. And that was like super fun to get to swimming college and like say I had swimming college. And I did make a lot of really good friends that I'm still in contact with. But the overall willamette experience was really difficult because I was a nontraditional student to begin with. I took two years after high school to go... Well, one year was because of COVID and the other year was planned. But I was 21 when I started my freshman year and I was put in the freshman dorms. And that was really tough on me. Like I had been living pretty independently and on my own and was forced to be in a box without a kitchen. And that was really difficult. And I ended up being able to move out the next semester. So, I was able to be a little bit more comfortable. But I think my entire experience was really difficult because I didn't connect with people really. Like it was a very surface level connection. They weren't super invested. There was a lot of privilege at that school that I haven't... I didn't have monetary privileges when I was going there. I had scholarships. But my second semester worked three jobs in order to just make ends meet. And that was incredibly stressful because I was swimming, I was working, and I was maintaining like a 3.9 GPA. Somehow. Tiff: Wow. Lauren: Somehow. I don't know. I did it. I did it and I made it. But I think I was really unhappy and felt really isolated. And I decided like mid-summer I was like, I can't go back. Like it's not happening. And I decided to transfer. And I really... So I've really enjoyed NAU. I wasn't able to start in the fall unfortunately because of some class availability and the time at which I decided to transfer. But I've met some really amazing people. I really lucked out with my roommates. I'm living in an apartment right now. And they're just absolutely awesome. And I'm living with them next year. Tiff: That's so nice compared to like your old experience versus now. Lauren: Exactly. Tiff: Because I feel like people who go to high school, people who go to college straight out of high school, they don't have that same mentality that people who have taken a break and experienced life for a little bit before going to college. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: It's not fair to group those people in the same category. Because they're really not at the same point in their lives. You have a little bit more depth to you. Lauren: Yeah. No, I would 100% agree. And I think that was made so painfully obvious at my last school. And it's less obvious here, which is really nice. Tiff: That's good. Lauren: There's a lot more ambiguity. There's a lot more non-traditional students here, which is what I was looking for. And I was looking for people that I could connect with that were closer to my age, had similar life experiences. I mean, my life trajectory has been a little nonlinear. But, you know, like being able to connect with people who understand where I am and like where I am in my life journey, I suppose. Tiff: So do you think that the Transferrages Mentoring Program helped you? Lauren: I think so. Tiff has been absolutely amazing. So, you've just really helped me get adjusted and feel comfortable. And, you know, by sharing your experience, I think that made me feel a lot more at home. And yeah. And I've really enjoyed whatever events I've gone to. I always meet fun people. Yeah. So, I'm really excited to be a part of the program and like be able to mentor myself because I really do think transfer students have a completely different experience. And it's important to address that and make sure that they feel comfortable and welcome. Tiff: Especially you being a non-traditional student yourself, we do get assigned a wide range of students ranging from like different ages, different like life scenarios, circumstances, and I think it you would just be great at like, you know, mentoring those people. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: Because you have experience yourself. You know where they're like going and then like what they've been through. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. I'll be able to relate to them, I think. Tiff: So, I'm really glad you're going to be part of the team. Lauren: I'm sad that you're leaving. Tiff: I'll still be in Flagstaff. Lauren: Okay. Okay. Tiff: But yeah, I'm so glad that you find like a little bit of different experience here at NAU because we really do try to make everyone feel like, you know, you're part of something. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: You know. Yeah. And I'm really glad that you have really good roommates too because school is not just about school. Lauren: Right. Yeah. Tiff: It's also about when you go home, like, you know, what do you experience. Because I know that some people they have really terrible roommates who they just like dread going home. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: But yeah. When you go to rest, it's best to have like someone you're looking forward to seeing. Lauren: Yeah. No, and I would agree and like, you know, we're watching American Idol last night. We just we goof around with each other. And it's always such a like, I definitely try and do my homework in the morning. That's just when I tend to function. And in the evenings, it's my time to unwind and relax a little bit more. Tiff: Yeah. Lauren: And so, it's so nice to be able to like go home and just I don't know. I've laughed so hard with them. Tiff: Aw. Lauren: Like we've laughed so hard with each other. We're just a bunch of goobers. And I think we've been really well. So I'm excited to continue living with them too. I think it's going to be a really great experience next year when I'll get to experience like a full year. Yeah. And you know, I'll be living off campus then. But like, I think it'll be really good because I've established that community, you know. Tiff: Yeah, you need community. Lauren: Yeah. And that's, I mean, at my last school, like I just didn't have that. I just didn't have that. Nobody understood where it was coming from. Tiff: But now you do. Lauren: Now I do. So yeah, now here. Tiff: But yeah, that's a really important having a support system community, especially as a transfer student, you're like far from home. And you know, you need friends. Lauren: Yeah, I would agree. Tiff: Friends are more important than you think. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Tiff: And they end up becoming family. Lauren: They do. And they already have, I think. Tiff: So yeah, so happy for you. Lauren: Thanks. Tiff: Alright, so what are your feelings on being a transfer student? Lauren: You know, I think I've tied a lot of it to being a non-traditional student kind of use those terms interchangeably, because you aren't traditional. Like you didn't start right out of high school, like, you know, and then you're at a completely different school than you were a year ago. So, I think being a transfer student is honestly kind of validating in a way, because it's been a way for me to still experience school, but not be treated like I'm 18. Tiff: Yeah. Lauren: I think there's still a little bit of like difficulty with that, though, you know, I mean, a lot of the intro level classes right now, which has been, you know, there's an automatic, even though I don't look anything like a freshman, there's an automatic assumption that I am and I definitely get a little miffed at that, I suppose. Tiff: Yeah. I understand that. Lauren: But I think, you know, I'm coming from a completely different place and I'm at a different, like we said earlier, like at a completely different life stage and I appreciate, like, the respect that comes with that, you know, and I kind of expect it a little bit, you know, because it's like, I've been through so much and I've done so much and it's like, I'm not a child anymore. And I haven't been. Tiff: Exactly. Lauren: So, you know, I think it's really nice to be a transfer student because you have the experience, like, you've been to college before, you've been around the block before, like, there's not an assumption that you're new to the world. I think so. Tiff: And where was I? But, um, yeah, I think when I first came here, I was like, kind of like, let's keep it on the download that I'm a transfer student, because at my old school, transfer students, for a scene that's kind of like weird. Lauren: Interesting. Okay. Tiff: But here it's like, you embrace it. And then, like, you know, at, like being a mentor, I'm like, you know, being a transfer student is a flex because, you know, you've lived life before. Lauren: Yeah, exactly. Tiff: You have another life outside of school. And, you know, it's like, you have something to brag about, you know, it's not something to hide. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: Especially, you're going to be a transfer mentor soon. Lauren: I know. And then I can definitely brag about that. Tiff: Yeah. And let's see, another question. If you could go back and change anything about your transition, is there anything you would change? Lauren: You know, I would have liked to have started in the fall. I think that that would have given me a little bit more of an introduction to the school as opposed to coming in, like, mid-year, you know, there's difficulty with that. But I don't know. There's some parts where I think I'm grateful that I started in spring because I was able to, you know, know exactly what I was doing this semester. It didn't feel like a scramble. Like I had, you know, four or five months to figure out like what's going on, you know, and talk with my advisors and stuff like that. So yeah. But I mean, I think still, I think I still would have liked to have started in the fall and yeah, had the full year experience. Tiff: Yeah. I feel like the spring semester goes by way faster. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Tiff: But for the fall, like, get ready for the monsoon season. Lauren: Yeah. Tucson definitely has those as well. So I'll be, I'll be good with those. Tiff: But during the fall, it's really pretty too. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: With all the leaves and everything. And I mean, it does get cold. Lauren: Yeah. But not for a couple months. You know, there's, there's a couple months in there where it's, you know, snow-free. Tiff: Yeah. I'm just waiting for spring to actually come. Lauren: I know. It's April, guys. Come on. Tiff: It's April, and it's gonna snow next week. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: But you know, what can you do? It's Flagstaff. Lauren: Flagstaff, man. Tiff: All right. So what's something you wish that people knew or understood more about transfer students? Lauren: Yeah. I mean, I think that goes back to a lot of things we've talked about is just understanding that they've been around the block before. Yeah. Like, you know, we aren't, we aren't new to this. Like, we know what's going on. We know how to study. We know how to be successful for the most part. Like, obviously, you know, that's not for everyone, Tiff: Yeah. Lauren: But most transfer students, I would say, have that grasp. So, I think there's a big maturity gap between transfer students and, you know, students who started college right out of high school. Tiff: Yeah. Lauren: So I mean, I really wish that there was a little bit more understanding for that and like empathy. I mean, I've just noticed it in professors and, you know, it's been a little difficult at times because you're not taking it seriously, but transfer students deserve to be taken seriously. Tiff: Yes. Yes. Lauren: And like, we're here, like we're studying, we're here to be successful. There's a reason we transferred, you know, and there's a reason we transferred here. So there's definitely some disconnect there at times. Tiff: Yeah. Lauren: So I really do wish that was a little bit more well understood. Tiff: And the transfer population at NAU is bigger than you think. So I feel like there should be more light on that. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Tiff: But I understand what you say. Because I think people coming in for their first year, first time, they're just like wanting, like, people just want to hold their hand through it. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: And it's like, we already know what to do. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: We already know what to do. Lauren: Exactly. Like, I don't need my handheld. Thank you. Tiff: Yeah. Okay. So we're going to do rapid fire. Lauren: Okay. Tiff: This or that. NAU edition. Lauren: All right. Tiff: It might not be as rapid, but so NAU gold or NAU blue? Lauren: Blue. Tiff: Why? Lauren: I like the color blue. Tiff: Okay. Lauren: I like Navy a lot. Tiff: That's a good thing. A lot of Navy around here. Lauren: I know. Tiff: All right. North or South Campus. Lauren: I haven't been to South Campus that much. What I have been to, I really do enjoy South Campus. It's a little, little more spread out, I think, which I enjoy. I like long walks. So I would, I would probably see South Campus. Tiff: It's like a solid 20 minute walk from here to there. Lauren: Yep. Yep. Yep. Tiff: Especially with like that hill. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: Gosh. I get flashbacks. Okay. Morning classes or afternoon slash evening classes? Lauren: I would say afternoon, not necessarily evening, but I go to the gym in the morning. So it's really nice to like have a little bit of space in between gym and class. And then I also do a lot of setting in the morning. And that's cause that's where I'm most productive. So it's nice to have afternoon classes because I'm able to work on homework, you know, and like study, etc, etc. Tiff: That's true. Lauren: Yeah, so... Tiff: Especially I feel like for me, I signed up for some 8am classes before. And I may or may not have attended them as often. You know. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: So afternoon classes. Lauren: I think next semester I'm like forced, there was only one section of a class that I'm required to take and it's at 9am. It's not at 8. Tiff: Okay. Lauren: Which is, you know, slight win, but it is at 9. So that's going to be a little bit of a struggle, but I'll manage. Tiff: You have to experience that at least like a couple of times in your college career. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. I had an 8am at my last institution and it was, it was tough, man. It was tough. Tiff: I had like a speech class at 8am and the whole, everyone was just like, monotoned, like, yes, hello. And then no one would like really engage in class because it's 8am. Lauren: Yeah. Yeah. Tiff: That class was very chill because no one had energy at that time. Lauren: Right. Right. Tiff: And let's see. Um, sun or snow? Lauren: Sun. I think that was a little too quick, maybe. I've never done snow sports in my life, so I can't say that I particularly enjoy the snow. I might take up cross country skiing just so that I can be outside, but I think the roughest days this semester have been the days where it's snowy and windy with no sun. It's just, oh my lord. I just don't want to be there. Tiff: I would just rather do snow to be honest because when I came here during COVID, we had the mask and everything. Lauren: Oh, the sun. Tiff: When it was so sunny, my forehead would just be like damp. Lauren: Yeah, yeah. Tiff: Just my forehead. Lauren: Just your forehead. Tiff: Yeah. And you've got to wear that sunblock. Lauren: Oh, I know. I put on sunscreen every morning. Even if it's snowing outside, yeah. SPF's great. You just, otherwise you get... Tiff: reapply every two hours. Lauren: Good to know. Tiff: Wait, you didn't know? Lauren: I mean, I knew that. I just usually do it in the morning and then... Tiff: Oh, okay. Alright. Lauren: Then forget about it. Tiff: You know, you can prevent wrinkles as well. Lauren: All right, I see. Yes. Yeah. Tiff: Anti-aging. Lauren: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Tiff: All right. Fall or winter? Lauren: I think that's tough because I haven't been here for a fall quite yet. I'm definitely more of a fall person, though I would say. I do enjoy a good fall with the leaves and changing colors and It's not freezing cold quite yet. Tiff: Yet. Lauren: Yet. Winter is quite chilly. Tiff: But yeah, I think fall is my favorite too. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: The leaves are so pretty. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: As I have said. Lauren: Mm-hmm. Tiff: And anything else you would like to talk about or, like, shout out? Lauren: Well, shout out to the Transfer Mentor Program. It's been awesome. Tiff: Aw. Lauren: And I've loved all of the programs that you guys have put on. And I'm obsessed with the mentors. I think they're really, as a whole, you guys are really great. Tiff: Thank you. Thank you. Lauren: And I felt very supported and I know that if I needed anything, like, you guys would be there. Tiff: Aw. Lauren: So, and also this podcast is awesome. This is so cool. Tiff: Yes, well thank you for sharing your story and I'm so excited for you to become a mentor. And i'm pretty sure that you're going to, like later on in the semster record your own podcast as a mentor, kind of like your experience, and I'm just really excited to see more growth in you. Lauren: Yeah. Tiff: You're one of my favorite mentees, and I'm so glad you're becoming a mentor and yeah thank you so much for being on the podcast. Lauren: Yeah. Thanks for having me.