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!
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?
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.
Is there going to be ice cream again for that one?
Always. It's not orientation season without ice cream.
I feel the same way. Thanks Sarah. I really appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for being here. I'm going to talk to some people.
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.
Well represent, where is it?
Leland, shout out. Alright, cool. Hey, did you go to orientation?
Okay. Are you Katie Cooper?
Oh hey. How's it going? I don't know how I knew that. Maybe your name tag. So how did orientation go?
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.
Good. So what do you foresee your first month being like?
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.
You mean away from the fam?
Right. Yeah. I'm Michael Caro, and this is my son Roman.
Hey, I'm good. We'll talk to you first and then I want to talk to your dad. So Roman, how was orientation?
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
Because some people need urging.
Yeah, I needed urging. It's like once you have one or two friends it's so much easier.
So did you know anybody coming here to App?
No, I'm actually from Pensacola, Florida.
Oh Sweet. Good to have you here. What is it you're looking forward to?
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...
Even though you grew up in Pensacola,
Even though I grew up in Pensacola, and if you know anything about Pensacola, it's the most flat place,
I really just came to App State for a big change.
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?
Well, we'll be officially empty nesters, so I'm pretty excited about that.
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.
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.
How do you think Roman's going to do?
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, who's this right here?
Hey. Hey, Carlos's mom. What is your name ma'am?
So Ingred and Carlos. So Carlos, how was orientation?
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.
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.
That seemed like she said yes. All right, good. Alright.
Okay, Olivia, who's this?
It's your mom. Hello Mom. What's your name?
Marianne Sweden, and Olivia Sweden. Nice to meet you. I'm Dave Blanks. How was orientation?
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.
A little less lost maybe. Yeah. What's you’re feeling about that first month of school?
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.
So mom, what do you envision your month with Olivia here at App State to be like?
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.
Absolutely. So what are you doing with her room?
Oh, I have three new people moving in. I'm renting it out!
Oh, side hustle. Good idea. Olivia, how do you feel about this?
It's basically my dog's room already. So...
I'm doing good. How about you?
I'm good. I love your name.
Beautiful name. How was orientation?
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.
Excellent. So you made some friends? Yes,
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,
But I think that it's going to be good in the long run.
Your App State family's here for you.
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.
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.
So what are you looking forward to for her in her first month at school?
Hopefully she's not going to call us. Pick me up. Dad,
Are you going to do that?
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.
Yeah, of course. Because yeah, absolutely. We're looking forward to this for, she's our first daughter to be in a college. Oh,
This is your first time doing this?
First time. Yeah. So yeah, today is overwhelming information for us. But anyway, we will get through it.
Alright, let's find some other parents and children. Maybe these are some.
Alright, Steven. And who is this?
This is my mother, Hope Harris.
Hey Hope Harris. How's it going?
Alright, good. So y'all finished orientation. How was it Steven?
It was amazing. It was everything I expected and more.
Aw, that's great hope. Hope, what do you think? What was the experience like?
It was wonderful. It was a great experience and overall just felt like a home environment.
Good. So Steven, what are you looking forward to?
I'm looking forward to just see how big this community actually is. I'm always looking forward for football games and band.
Are you part of the band?
I play mellophone. I will be on that field marching with the marching mountaineers? Yes.
Sweet. Congratulations. North Carolina's Band of Distinction. So Hope, what are you looking forward to for him?
Just him making new friends and him having the college experience.
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.
Are you going to play intramural?
Oh nice. What are you going to play?
I don't know, there's so many options. I could do basketball, soccer, volleyball, or just trying something completely new.
Alright, so mom, when you think about her first month at Appalachian State, what are you looking forward to for her?
I'm looking forward to her falling in love with the mountains like her mama.
Here's a parent and a student. He's a Braves fan.
And Henry, this is your mother?
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?
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.
So mom, when you think about Henry's first month at Appalachian State, what do you think it'll be like for him?
Looking forward to him meeting some new people, enjoying this amazing campus and outdoor life.
What are you looking forward to now that Henry is going to be at school?
Oh, oh, okay. So it's either...
Are you going to be an empty nester?
No. I've got two more at home.
Alright, but you're quite fond of Henry you're saying?
Okay, Kristen. And who is this?
Also known as mom and dad?
Alright, cool. So who's y'all student?
Megan, alright. What are you looking forward to for Megan?
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.
What? She has 12 friends.
Yes. So we're just sitting back and watching her thrive and it's just,
It's just amazing. Yeah. So I'm just excited for her.
Unbelievable. Alright, so you had some concerns initially, but
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.
Right. She's got time. Dad, what about you?
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.
Alright, so y'all going to come visit? Is she going to come home?
A little bit of both. Yeah,
Probably a little bit of both. All right. We have dogs that she likes a lot. Probably more than us.
She's going to come back for the animals.
She'll come home to see the dogs. I don't want to tear her away from her friends, but Which one? Which?
She's probably the only one with the pants on the colorful pants.
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
Was great. Better than expected?
What were you thinking it was going to be like? I
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
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?
Honestly, getting back together with the people that I met.
Aw, is that true? Yeah. That's so sweet. Sweet.
Oh my gosh. Alright, well I got to talk to some of these people too.
Megan, thank you very much. So let's talk to you. My
Alright, Nicole, how was orientation?
It was a lot of fun. I had a great tour guide and it was her first tour and she did amazing.
Knocked it out of the park.
What are you looking forward to for your first month or so at App State?
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.
Oh really? Alright, let's talk to your roommate. Hello roommate. How are you?
So Kate, how was orientation?
Oh, it was so fun. I had a great time.
What did you think it was going to be like?
I was convinced I was going to be sitting alone in the room talking to nobody, but that didn't happen.
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.
I promise it won't. So Kate, what are you looking forward to most about your first month or so at App State?
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.
Awesome, cool. What is your main concern and how can we solve that now?
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.
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
Well, so you heard my question. What do you think? How was orientation?
Orientation was a lot of fun. I didn't expect it to be, I was really dreading being by myself all weekend.
That's exactly what Kate said.
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.
Alright. What are you concerned about?
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.
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.
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.
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.
