Dave Blanks from University Communications hosts an orientation edition of Dave by the Bell, where he crashes an ice cream party on Sanford Mall to interview incoming students and their parents about their expectations for the first month of college. Excitement about meeting new people, participating in clubs and sports, and experiencing independence abound! 

TRANSCRIPT

Dave 

Hey folks, how's it going? I'm Dave Blanks from University Communications back with another Dave by the Bell. This is an orientation edition of Dave by the Bell. First day of fall semester is about a month away. August 19th. Students and their families have been hanging out on campus. They got in yesterday and they spent the night in some residence halls, checking things out. So we're going to talk to them a little bit about their experience and also what they're looking forward to, what they're expecting for their first month of their collegiate career. And also hopefully talk to the parents about what they think their first month with their student in school will be like. So that's the plan. Let's do it. Hey, I know that person. That's Sarah Garrow. Hey, Sarah Garrow. How's it going?

Sarah 

It's going so well. We've got ice cream, we've got Inflatable Block A's out here on Sanford Mall, rain free, just enjoying the sun. Got a couple sessions in August, so two in Hickory, August 9th and 14th. And then our final Boone main campus session on Monday, August 12th.

Dave 

Is there going to be ice cream again for that one?

Sarah 

Always. It's not orientation season without ice cream.

Dave 

I feel the same way. Thanks Sarah. I really appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for being here. I'm going to talk to some people.

Trey 

I'm Trey Craven. So once I get my schedule together, which is probably going to be the first week, trying to get that situated, that first month is just going to be getting used to my schedule and getting used to walking around and figuring out when I need to leave my dorm. Just getting used to meeting new people because where I'm from, everyone knows me. I know everyone. It was a very small area outside of Wilmington's where I'm really from.

Dave 

Well represent, where is it?

Trey 

Leland, North Carolina.

Dave 

Leland, shout out. Alright, cool. Hey, did you go to orientation?

Katie 

 I did.

Dave 

Okay. Are you Katie Cooper?

Katie 

Yes, I am. Katie Cooper.

Dave 

Oh hey. How's it going? I don't know how I knew that. Maybe your name tag. So how did orientation go?

Katie 

It was great. I am five hours away, so I was really scared because I only know one person coming here. I did the overnight orientation and last night was a lot of fun. It was also, I'm happy I got to see the dorms because I didn't get to go to open house. So it's like, okay, this is my first experience seeing the dorms. Yeah. But it was a lot of fun doing that and I'm happy I was able to meet people. So now I know. Okay. I have some people I'll know when I come here and I won't be totally alone.

Dave 

Good. So what do you foresee your first month being like?

Katie 

The one thing I'm trying to avoid is feeling like I'm stuck in my dorm. I really don't want to feel like I'm stuck. I want to go to the library, things like that. I am looking forward to just kind of being on my own for a little bit and seeing how that works.

Dave 

You mean away from the fam?

Katie 

Yeah,

Michael 

Right. Yeah. I'm Michael Caro, and this is my son Roman.

Dave 

Roman. What's up man?

Roman 

How you doing?

Dave 

Hey, I'm good. We'll talk to you first and then I want to talk to your dad. So Roman, how was orientation?

Roman 

Orientation was fun. So I did the overnight orientation. When you got there, you had a schedule and out at the courtyard there was all these games and stuff. And all of the sophomores and juniors, they were trying to kind of forcing people to socialize, which is good

Dave 

Because some people need urging.

Roman 

Yeah, I needed urging. It's like once you have one or two friends it's so much easier.

Dave 

So did you know anybody coming here to App?

Roman

No, I'm actually from Pensacola, Florida.

Dave 

Oh Sweet. Good to have you here. What is it you're looking forward to?

Roman 

I'm looking forward to settling in. I'm looking forward to the scenery that App State has. I'm very much an outdoorsy person and I love the mountains more than anything really. But...

Dave 

Even though you grew up in Pensacola,

Roman

Even though I grew up in Pensacola, and if you know anything about Pensacola, it's the most flat place,

Dave 

Not too mountainous.

Roman

I really just came to App State for a big change.

Dave 

Nice! Well, I'm sure your first month is going to go smooth, dad. I hope so. Michael, what do you foresee your first month of Roman being in school like?

Michael

Well, we'll be officially empty nesters, so I'm pretty excited about that.

Dave

Congratulations.

Michael 

I'm really looking forward to his experience here at App State. We're excited to actually spend a lot of time coming to visit him.

Dave 

Oh yeah.

Michael

We told him that you're not coming home for the holidays. We're coming to see you. We're excited to really just enjoy this area as a family vacation spot for the next four or five years.

Dave 

How do you think Roman's going to do?

Michael 

I think this is really going to be a great fit for Roman. He wanted Colorado and I said, no, that's too far. I said, Boone is a great area. Let's see how that goes. And he loved it. We were only here once before and he fell in love, got accepted, and we are here today.

Carlos 

I'm Carlos Villalta .

Dave 

Carlos, who's this right here?

Carlos 

My Mom.

Dave 

Hey. Hey, Carlos's mom. What is your name ma'am?

Ingred 

Ingred Perez.

Dave

So Ingred and Carlos. So Carlos, how was orientation?

Carlos

It was great. I loved it. Got to meet new people. Get a little familiar with the place. I loved it. Yeah, I love the campus, the people. I'm looking forward to getting to know my roommate, get the dorm life setting and then just exploring my classes and campus more.

Dave

Mom, Ingred, if you could give Carlos some advice, what would you tell him to do?

Carlos (translating Ingred's Spanish) 

That I be well behave and I take care of myself.

Dave 

Is he going to do it?

Dave 

That seemed like she said yes. All right, good. Alright.

Olivia

I'm Olivia Sweden.

Dave 

Okay, Olivia, who's this?

Olivia

This is my mom.

Dave

It's your mom. Hello Mom. What's your name?

Marian

Marian Sweden.

Dave

Marianne Sweden, and Olivia Sweden. Nice to meet you. I'm Dave Blanks. How was orientation?

Olivia 

It was good. I got to meet a lot of people. I didn't really know what I was doing and I'm still kind of lost, but I feel more assured.

Dave

A little less lost maybe. Yeah. What's you’re feeling about that first month of school?

Olivia

I feel like it's going to be very nerve wracking. I've never lived with another person before, so it's going to be learning how to share space, how to manage time myself, how long do I sleep, when do I eat? And how do you deal with classes and with your social life being entirely at school, getting out there, meeting people, joining clubs.

Dave 

So mom, what do you envision your month with Olivia here at App State to be like?

Marian 

We'll see, let's see. I am hoping that she'll respond to my text messages so that I know she's alive. Some proof of life, texting and making sure she's got what she needs and that she's doing all those things that she said she's worried about.

Dave 

Absolutely. So what are you doing with her room?

Marian 

Oh, I have three new people moving in. I'm renting it out!

Dave 

Oh, side hustle. Good idea. Olivia, how do you feel about this?

Olivia 

It's basically my dog's room already. So...

Cyrah 

I'm Cyrah Cirineo

Dave 

Cyrah. How's it going?

Cyrah

I'm doing good. How about you?

Dave 

I'm good. I love your name.

Cyrah 

Thank you.

Dave 

Beautiful name. How was orientation?

Cyrah 

It exceeded my expectations. I'm surprised that a lot of people showed up. I really did enjoy my experience here. Pretty good way to meet new people.

Dave 

Excellent. So you made some friends? Yes,

Cyrah

I did. Okay, good. I'm really looking forward to being away from my parents, but also scared of being away from my parents. Okay,

Dave

Alright.

Cyrah

But I think that it's going to be good in the long run.

Dave 

Your App State family's here for you.

Cyrah 

That's right. I'm looking forward to the people here. I would say this is very diverse. There's many people that have many interests that go to App State, so I'm looking forward to that too.

Dave

Good. I was going to try to talk to your dad. Do you think he'd be willing to talk to me? Yeah. Alright, let's try to talk to your dad too.

Cielito 

I'm Cielito Cirineo II.

Dave

So what are you looking forward to for her in her first month at school?

Cielito

Hopefully she's not going to call us. Pick me up. Dad,

Dave 

Are you going to do that?

Cyrah

Maybe. I don't know.

Dave 

Oh No. She said she was looking forward to trying to be on her own and be out, but she was also going to miss y'all.

Cielito

Yeah, of course. Because yeah, absolutely. We're looking forward to this for, she's our first daughter to be in a college. Oh,

Dave 

This is your first time doing this?

Cielito 

First time. Yeah. So yeah, today is overwhelming information for us. But anyway, we will get through it.

Dave

Alright, let's find some other parents and children. Maybe these are some.

Steven

I'm Steven Harris.

Dave 

Alright, Steven. And who is this?

Steven

This is my mother, Hope Harris.

Dave 

Hey Hope Harris. How's it going?

Hope

Doing good.

Dave 

Alright, good. So y'all finished orientation. How was it Steven?

Steven

It was amazing. It was everything I expected and more.

Dave

Aw, that's great hope. Hope, what do you think? What was the experience like?

Hope

It was wonderful. It was a great experience and overall just felt like a home environment.

Dave

Good. So Steven, what are you looking forward to?

Steven

I'm looking forward to just see how big this community actually is. I'm always looking forward for football games and band.

Dave

Are you part of the band?

Steven

I very much am.

Dave 

Sweet. What do you play?

Steven

I play mellophone. I will be on that field marching with the marching mountaineers? Yes.

Dave 

Sweet. Congratulations. North Carolina's Band of Distinction. So Hope, what are you looking forward to for him?

Hope

Just him making new friends and him having the college experience.

Evelyn

I'm Evelyn Meericle. I'm excited for fall in the mountains. I love fall. I'm nervous about probably just being homesick. I've never been away from home. I honestly just don't know how I will feel. But yeah, I'm also excited for the sports, like intramural sports. Watching sports.

Dave 

Are you going to play intramural?

Evelyn

Yeah, definitely.

Dave

Oh nice. What are you going to play?

Evelyn 

I don't know, there's so many options. I could do basketball, soccer, volleyball, or just trying something completely new.

Dave 

Alright, so mom, when you think about her first month at Appalachian State, what are you looking forward to for her?

Mama 

I'm looking forward to her falling in love with the mountains like her mama.

Dave

Here's a parent and a student. He's a Braves fan.

Henry

I'm Henry Abbott.

Dave 

And Henry, this is your mother?

Carolyn

Yes it is.

Dave 

Hey, Carolyn Abbott.

Carolyn 

That's right.

Dave 

This is the first time I've ever interviewed a big group of people that all had name tags. It makes it very helpful. So Henry, you're done with orientation. What was the experience? How was it?

Henry 

My experience was pretty great. I liked the campus a lot and the tour is really helpful. Yeah, I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of people and joining some clubs.

Dave 

So mom, when you think about Henry's first month at Appalachian State, what do you think it'll be like for him?

Carolyn

Looking forward to him meeting some new people, enjoying this amazing campus and outdoor life.

Dave 

What are you looking forward to now that Henry is going to be at school?

Carolyn

I'm going to be sad.

Dave 

Oh, oh, okay. So it's either...

Carolyn

It's going to be hard.

Dave 

Are you going to be an empty nester?

Carolyn

No. I've got two more at home.

Dave 

Alright, but you're quite fond of Henry you're saying?

Carolyn

Of course, yes.

Kristen 

I'm Kristen Burns.

Dave 

Okay, Kristen. And who is this?

Kevin

Kevin Burns,

Dave

Also known as mom and dad?

Both

Yeah.

Dave

Alright, cool. So who's y'all student?

Kristen 

Megan. Megan Burns.

Dave 

Megan, alright. What are you looking forward to for Megan?

Kristen 

Well, I was actually, I had apprehensions. I was worried that she was going to be homesick and wasn't going to adjust well. But then from this orientation, I see that she has a group of 12 friends. She's having a great time.

Dave

What? She has 12 friends.

Kristen

Yes. So we're just sitting back and watching her thrive and it's just,

Dave 

She's right over there.

Kristen 

It's just amazing. Yeah. So I'm just excited for her.

Dave 

Unbelievable. Alright, so you had some concerns initially, but

Kristen 

They're gone now. So I just am excited for her to get into the college life and get into her classes. She is an excellent student, so I think she's just going to have a great time and get into learning and decide exactly what her major's going to be.

Dave 

Right. She's got time. Dad, what about you?

Kevin 

I'm excited for a lot of opportunity, big change. But my wife said she's adjusting well already and the sky's the limit for her.

Dave 

Alright, so y'all going to come visit? Is she going to come home?

Kevin 

A little bit of both. Yeah,

Kristen 

Probably a little bit of both. All right. We have dogs that she likes a lot. Probably more than us.

Dave 

Right.

Kristen

She's going to come back for the animals.

Dave

She'll come home to see the dogs. I don't want to tear her away from her friends, but Which one? Which?

Kevin 

She's probably the only one with the pants on the colorful pants.

Dave 

Alright, I'm hunting Megan down. Hey Megan. Hey, how's it going? So I know you because I just met your parents. So I will talk to Y'all. I would love to. So Megan, I was talking to your parents about also. Hello y'all. Hello. Greetings. I was talking to your parents about what they're looking forward to for you when you're coming to App in the first month or so. So how was orientation? It

Megan 

Was great. Better than expected?

Dave 

What were you thinking it was going to be like? I

Megan

I thought I would be alone for most of it because I'm kind of shy usually. But it just kind of happened that we met a lot of people and it just

Dave 

Look at you go, oh, good for you. Alright, so what are you looking forward to for your first month or so at App State?

Megan

Honestly, getting back together with the people that I met.

Dave 

Aw, is that true? Yeah. That's so sweet. Sweet.

Megan

I love these people.

Dave 

Oh my gosh. Alright, well I got to talk to some of these people too.

Megan 

Yes you do.

Dave

Megan, thank you very much. So let's talk to you. My

Nicole

My name is Nicole.

Dave

Alright, Nicole, how was orientation?

Nicole 

It was a lot of fun. I had a great tour guide and it was her first tour and she did amazing.

Dave 

Knocked it out of the park.

Nicole 

Shout out to Catherine.

Dave 

What are you looking forward to for your first month or so at App State?

Nicole 

I think it's going to be a lot of getting into a schedule. I'm nervous about if I'm going to like my classes or not, but she said I'm excited to meet everybody back here in three weeks. So I'm also really excited to decorate my dorm and that's my roommate.

Dave 

Oh really? Alright, let's talk to your roommate. Hello roommate. How are you?

Kate 

Hello!

Dave 

What's your name?

Kate

My name is Kate.

Dave 

So Kate, how was orientation?

Kate 

Oh, it was so fun. I had a great time.

Dave 

What did you think it was going to be like?

Kate

I was convinced I was going to be sitting alone in the room talking to nobody, but that didn't happen.

Dave 

No, that's not what high school was like. I'm pretty sure right? That wasn't like that. No, no, no. And college won't be like that either.

Kate 

Okay, Thanks!

Dave

I promise it won't. So Kate, what are you looking forward to most about your first month or so at App State?

Kate 

Well, I'm just excited to obviously get back with them and then meet new people and for the football games, I'm excited for those.

Dave 

Awesome, cool. What is your main concern and how can we solve that now?

Kate 

My main concern is going to class. I'm afraid if I skip one class, I'm afraid I'm going to get in the habit, but I'm really going to try not to. That's my goal is to not skip class.

Dave 

Yeah, you have people to hold you accountable now. Right. Alright, good. And you also hung out with these people, right? Yes I did. So what is your name? I'm

Clara 

Clara.

Dave 

Clara. How are you?

Clara 

I'm doing really good.

Dave

Well, so you heard my question. What do you think? How was orientation?

Clara 

Orientation was a lot of fun. I didn't expect it to be, I was really dreading being by myself all weekend.

Dave

That's exactly what Kate said.

Clara

But as soon as I got here I found myself among 10 other girls and I was like, oh my gosh, this is so cute. And then we hung out with each other basically the whole time and it was nice. I'm looking forward to a lot of the social aspect of being in college, being able to choose where I go and what I do and all the people I hang out with.

Dave

Sweet freedom.

Clara 

Yes exactly.

Dave 

Alright. What are you concerned about?

Clara 

Just like what they said, getting to class. I'm just worried that maybe I won't get along with my professors. They won't be able to. I don't know if I'm going to be in big classes or anything. They won't have a personal relationship with me.

Dave 

Go talk to 'em.

Clara 

Yeah

Dave

That's what you do.

Clara

I know I'm supposed to go to the office hours and everything, do it, but I'm not too worried. I feel pretty good after this weekend.

Dave

Good. Thank you for taking a minute to talk to me. Yeah. Thank you so much. Yeah, have a good day. And yeah, you too. Safe travels back.

Dave

Orientation rules. Everybody had a big old time, people met friends. Parents are sad, parents are excited. Sarah Garros is very confident. Everything went smooth. I almost want to go back to college just so I can participate in orientation. Thank you so much to all the parents and all of the soon to be mountaineers and we can't wait to see you on campus come August. I'm Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell, Dave by the Bell, D-B-T-B. Hey, if you want to reach out to me, you could email our podcast email address, which is [email protected]. Like subscribe, do all these things. Tell your family, tell your great Aunt Mildred. Thanks so much. Alright, I'm going back to my building.