Dave by the Bell

In this video edition of Dave By The Bell, Dave goes in search of the bell that used to sit in front of Anne Belk Hall. Learn about App State's Special Collections Research Center from university archivist Kim Sims, and catch a glimpse of interesting historical items from Appalachian's past! Listen to other Dave by the Bell episodes here: dave.podcasts.appstate.edu

On this March-centric Dave by the Bell, University Communications' Dave Blanks asks Appalachian students to finish the old adage, "In like a lion out like a..." He also discovers what they are planning for spring break.

Transcript

Dave Blanks: Hey, folks, I'm Dave Blanks from University Communications back once again with a Dave by the Bell, and on this edition it's March, the month of March. In like a lion, out like a... Right? Out like a lamb is the saying. On this podcast we're going to talk to Appalachian State students and ask them to finish the sentence, "In like a lion, out like a..." and then hopefully they'll come up with something silly. I don't know. We'll see what happens.

Dave Blanks: Well, so for today to be like a lion day, it's really nice outside. Whoop, I said that and then I got outside and it's a little chilly, but it's really pretty. A lot of people with short sleeves. Surely we'll find some people to talk to.

Robert Armstrong: I'm Robert Armstrong. I'd say I'm a lamb.

Dave Blanks: You think a lamb? And why do you believe you're a lamb?

Robert Armstrong: A little meek, honestly.

Dave Blanks: All right. Okay, cool. So also, what are you doing for spring break?

Robert Armstrong: I'm going to Chicago and watching a hockey game.

Dave Blanks: Sweet. Are you from Chicago?

Robert Armstrong: No. A lot of my family is though.

Dave Blanks: Oh, cool. Well, enjoy yourself.

Robert Armstrong: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Hockey in Chicago for spring break.

Emily Stasiak: I'm Emily Stasiak.

Dave Blanks: In like a lion, out like a...

Emily Stasiak: ... tiger.

Dave Blanks: That's two tigers in a row. Yeah. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Maybe that's why. No, it's in like a lion, out like a lamb.

Emily Stasiak: Oh. I would say I'm more of a lamb. More innocent and I don't feel like I'm big enough to be a lion.

Dave Blanks: Do you think you'll grow into being a lion?

Emily Stasiak: Maybe eventually, but not right now.

Dave Blanks: Well, I hope you maintain your lambness for as long as you can. And where are you going for spring break?

Emily Stasiak: I'm going home. I'm just going to work.

Bryan Gertz: Yeah, I'm Brian Gertz.

Dave Blanks: So Brian, it is March and there's an old saying that goes along with March, and I want you to try to finish the saying. You may be familiar. In like a lion, out like a...

Bryan Gertz: ...lamb.

Dave Blanks: Good job. The first one to get it so far. All right, a check mark for Brian. So would you say, Brian, that you are more of a lion or more of a lamb and why?

Bryan Gertz: I'm a lion because I'm a go-getter. I'm always working. I'm always hustling, never really lay down for anything.

Dave Blanks: What are you doing for spring break?

Bryan Gertz: Oh, spring break I'm heading over to Wrightsville Beach. Heading down the mountain.

Dave Blanks: Cool. What are your plans there, what?

Bryan Gertz: I'm going to hang out on the beach, dip my toes in the sand. All the good stuff.

Dave Blanks: Nice. You got to take a break from the hustling sometimes. Thanks, Brian.

Bryan Gertz: Yeah, take it easy.

Nikki Parker: I'm Nikki Parker. I don't know. A cat? I don't know.

Dave Blanks: Out like a cat?

Nikki Parker: I don't know.

Dave Blanks: Okay. Well, okay. So, in like a lion, out like a lamb. Do you think that you are more of a lion or a lamb?

Nikki Parker: I don't know. Probably a lion because a lot of people just say I'm intimidating with my personality, so I just feel like that's probably it.

Dave Blanks: What are you doing for spring break?

Nikki Parker: I'm just going home to spend time with my family.

Tayah Hichue: I'm Tayah Hichue. I don't know. I'd say lamb. I'd like to think I'm more gentle.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. All right, cool. And the last part, what's spring break look like for you?

Tayah Hichue: I think I'm going to go cave camping.

Dave Blanks: What? Where?

Tayah Hichue: Worleys Cave.

Dave Blanks: Where's that?

Tayah Hichue: It's in Tennessee.

Rachel Gains: I'm Rachel Gains.

Dave Blanks: March, in like a lion, out like a...

Rachel Gains: ... lamb.

Dave Blanks: You did it. You got it. Congratulations! All right, so now would you say that you are a lion or a lamb?

Rachel Gains: You know, I think I'm more like a lion. I'm pretty straight forward and pretty strong-willed so I tend to be more forthcoming and more of a ferocious person in my daily life.

Dave Blanks: Last part, what are you doing for spring break? It's coming right up.

Rachel Gains: I am actually going on visits to PhD programs to Illinois and then to Rutgers. So what do you want to study? I'll be doing bioengineering, synthetic biology type of stuff.

Dave Blanks: Nice. What's a problem you hope to solve with bioengineering?

Rachel Gains: I want to work in biosynthesis of petroleum alternatives. So oil, gasoline, plastics, anything like that.

Dave Blanks: You make App proud. You are so very App.

Rachel Gains: Thank you!

Josh Hemphill: I'm Josh Hemphill.

Dave Blanks: And can you give me your name?

Jacob Gillard: I am Jacob Gillard. I think I'm more of a lion because I feel like I'm just strong and brave.

Dave Blanks: Right on. Okay. And Josh, are you more of a lion or a lamb and why?

Josh Hemphill: I think I see myself more as a lion because I'm aggressive and I always try to go get it any day.

Dave Blanks: And what are you guys do for spring break? Do you know yet? That's the last part.

Jacob Gillard: I'm going to Panama City.

Dave Blanks: Woo! Yeah, all right! And what about you Josh?

Josh Hemphill: Going home to Charlotte.

Dave Blanks: Okay, cool. Y'all have a great spring break. Be careful in Panama City, man.

Jacob Gillard: I'll try, I'll try.

Dave Blanks: All right, thanks guys.

Josh Hemphill: Thank you.

Jackie Christ: I am Jackie Christ.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. So, Jackie, in like a lion, out like a...

Jackie Christ: ... lamb.

Dave Blanks: Good job. All right, you're the third one that's gotten it so far. So would you, Jackie, say that you identify more as a lion or a lamb and why?

Jackie Christ: I don't really know how to answer that question. I guess I would try to be a lion, be the predator rather than the prey. Right? I don't know.

Dave Blanks: But you feel as though you're more of a lamb?

Jackie Christ: Yeah, I guess, but I want to be a lion.

Dave Blanks: Right. You're aspiring to be a lion?

Jackie Christ: Yes, I would say so.

Dave Blanks: What are you doing for spring break? That's the last part.

Jackie Christ: Oh, hopefully winning the Sun Belt Championship for our basketball team.

Dave Blanks: Awesome. Well, good luck.

Jackie Christ: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Thanks for answering my question.

Jackie Christ: Of course, thank you.

Beatrice Parker: Beatrice Parker.

Dave Blanks: In like a lion, out like a...

Beatrice Parker: ... bear?

Dave Blanks: A bear!

Beatrice Parker: Oh, really?

Dave Blanks: No, it's not bear. It's lamb. It's in like a lion out like a lamb. All right. So do you feel, Beatrice, that you are more of a lion or more of a lamb and why?

Beatrice Parker: Oh, just depends, man! I would say lamb, maybe.

Dave Blanks: Okay, why?

Beatrice Parker: I get more on doing my own thing, not out getting things done, just eating my grass.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. All right, I get that. Okay. And here's the last part. What are you doing for spring break?

Beatrice Parker: Spring break? I'm going to go take my boyfriend to meet my grandma.

Dave Blanks: Whoa. Where's that?

Beatrice Parker: Shelby, North Carolina.

Dave Blanks: So he's never met your grandma before.

Beatrice Parker: Yeah

Dave Blanks: Is there anything special that you informed him about your grandma? Like, "Hey, heads up about grandma... This."

Beatrice Parker: She likes to go to the bathroom with the door open.

Dave Blanks: Is he prepared for that?

Beatrice Parker: No, but it's okay. She's got a dog that humps everything. And she's going to offer him food 24/7 so...

Dave Blanks: That sounds like not such a bad deal.

Beatrice Parker: Yeah, she's a good lady. She's awesome.

Dave Blanks: Well Beatrice, have fun on spring break.

Beatrice Parker: Awesome. You too, man.

Dan Davidson: Yeah. My name is Dan Davidson.

Dave Blanks: March, in like a lion, out like a...

Dan Davidson: ... elephant.

Dave Blanks: I like that guess. It's actually "in like a lion, out like a lamb."

Dan Davidson: Okay.

Dave Blanks: So would you say that you're more of a lion or a lamb and why?

Dan Davidson: I would say lamb in terms of the weather, because I love warmer weather.

Dave Blanks: Nobody's worked it back to the weather. Everybody's made it about their personality. But you were like, no, weather-wise, this is what I like. This is pretty nice weather in Boone right now. Are you sticking around for spring break or going somewhere else?

Dan Davidson: I'm going down to Florida. I'm going to Disney World.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Have you been before?

Dan Davidson: Yes, I have. My family actually has season passes so been few times this past year.

Dave Blanks: Awesome. What's the best part of Disney World for you?

Dan Davidson: Probably the Magic Kingdom just because if you go to Disney, that's the place that you have to go for sure.

Dave Blanks: Right on. Okay, cool. Well, Dan, thanks for your answers.

Dan Davidson: Thank you, have a good day.

Dave Blanks: Thanks, Dan. You too. Have fun at Disney.

Dave Blanks: Everybody on their iPhone.

Devin Mullins: I'm Devin Mullins.

Dave Blanks: Okay, so Devin. In like a lion, out like a...

Devin Mullins: ... fish? First thing that came to mind.

Dave Blanks: Are you into aquariums and stuff?

Devin Mullins: No, I just really want some fish right now.

Dave Blanks: So it's actually "in like a lion, out like a lamb." Would you say that you're more of a lion or more of a lamb?

Devin Mullins: I'm more of a lion because of Game of Thrones.

Dave Blanks: So isn't the lion the House Lannister?

Devin Mullins: Yeah. There's a quote Tyrion's dad says which is, "A lion does not concern himself with the opinion of sheep." Which I know is not a lamb necessarily, but it works.

Dave Blanks: It works. All right, that's great. I love Game of Thrones so much. And here's the last part is where are you going for spring break? What are you doing?

Devin Mullins: I'm going to Washington DC to visit my sister.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Well thanks for your answers so much. I really appreciate it.

Devin Mullins: Where can I check out your podcast?

Dave Blanks: Please check it out on iTunes or Spotify.

Devin Mullins: I will, awesome.

Dave Blanks: Thanks, man. All right. Game of Thrones. So awesome. Good answer like that.

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: I'm Danielle Lapensee-Rankine.

Dave Blanks: So, Danielle. There's a saying that goes with the month of March and that saying goes "in like a lion, out like a..."

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: ... Mmm, I don't know. Kitten.

Dave Blanks: Out like a kitten, all right. That's not bad. You got the sentiment right, but it's "in like a lion, out like a lamb."

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: Ah, okay.

Dave Blanks: Would you say, Danielle, that you are more of a lion or more of a lamb?

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: I'm not sure. I want to say lion. Because everyone wants to be the lion. They want to be powerful and strong, I guess.

Dave Blanks: I feel the same way. I want to say lion.

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: I want to say lion, but I guess I'd say lamb. I'm calmer and less outgoing, I suppose.

Dave Blanks: Right. And the last part is what are you doing for spring break?

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: Oh, I'm helping my mom move into an apartment near her work.

Dave Blanks: She could have hired somebody else but you were "like, no, I got you."

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: We're all going down to help her.

Dave Blanks: Okay. It's a team effort. Oh nice.

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: My sister and my dad and I, yeah.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Well, I hope it goes well. Don't pull anything and you should feel good cause you're a good daughter.

Danielle Lapensee-Rankine: Thank you.

Rachel Tilley: I am Rachel Tilley.

Dave Blanks: Okay. And I want you to finish it. In like a lion, out like a...

Rachel Tilley: ... light.

Dave Blanks: Out like a light? That's pretty good. That's not bad. It's not accurate, but I like it. All right, you got the alliteration part right. It's "in like a lion, out like a lamb." Have you ever heard that?

Rachel Tilley: No, I have not.

Dave Blanks: Never before. Would you say that you are more of a lion or more of a lamb.

Rachel Tilley: I'm more of a lion, because my personality is really out there and I would say I have a pretty aggressive go-getter nature.

Dave Blanks: Right. Okay, here's the last part. What are you doing for spring break?

Rachel Tilley: I'm going to go to New Mexico and Arizona to study on native American reservations.

Dave Blanks: Oh, cool. Do you know the reservation you're studying at?

Rachel Tilley: I'm going to Hopi, Zuni and Navajo.

Dave Blanks: What do you want to learn there?

Rachel Tilley: How their college process goes, their access to college. Why is the rate of tribal colleges they go to higher than universities like this one.

Dave Blanks: I didn't know it was.

Rachel Tilley: It is. They have a different access rate, basically, or they don't feel as comfortable coming to big public schools because a lot of people aren't familiar with native American history or their culture and things like that.

Dave Blanks: Very interesting. Well, cool. I hope you have fun and learn a lot.

Rachel Tilley: Okay, thank you.

Dave Blanks: I don't know if like... Does lamb have negative connotations? I guess lamb kind of does. I don't think it does.

Dave Blanks: Hey, excuse me. Hi, my name's Dave and I have a podcast called Dave by the Bell where I... It looks like you want to go. All right, she's leaving. People run away.

Sarah: Sarah.

Dave Blanks: So hey, Sarah. There's a saying that goes with the month of March and that is "in like a lion out like a..."

Sarah: ... okay...it's..Dandelion.

Dave Blanks: Out like a dandelion, that's good. So it's actually "in like a lion, out like a lamb." Would you say, Sarah, that you're more of a lion or more of a lamb and why?

Sarah: Well, okay, so probably more like a lamb, I guess. Okay. So I wouldn't consider myself a lion because I wouldn't consider myself to have a fierce personality. So, I mean I wouldn't consider myself to be very direct or blunt or anything like that. Or how should I say? I guess if you think of a lion, in a sense, I guess you think of leadership also. But I mean I'm not the kind of person that likes to lead. I like to help those that are leading.

Dave Blanks: Right, a facilitator.

Sarah: Yeah, pretty much.

Dave Blanks: Very helpful lamb. So what are you doing for spring break is the last part.

Sarah: I'm going home to visit my family.

Dave Blanks: Cool.

Emma Frost: I'm Emma Frost.

Dave Blanks: Okay. So Emma, there's a saying that goes with the month of March. Are we going in here?

Emma Frost: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Okay, it's in like a lion, out like a... You don't know?

Emma Frost: No.

Dave Blanks: All right. It's in like a lion, out like a lamb. Would you say, Emma, that you're more of a lion or more of a lamb?

Emma Frost: I feel like I'm a mixture, though. I guess a lion because I go after what I want, but then I'm also like a lamb. I'm a little bit shy about it, I guess. But I still really work for it.

Dave Blanks: I think everybody is innately some kind of hybrid, but they think they're one or the other. So I feel like that's a very honest answer. Okay. And the last part is what are you doing for spring break?

Emma Frost: I am going to the beach. It'll be a nice break.

Dave Blanks: What beach?

Emma Frost: Charleston.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. Oh cool, right on. Good food down there. Lots of waves.

Emma Frost: Shopping.

Dave Blanks: A lot of shopping. All right, cool. Well, Emma, thanks so much for your answers.

Emma Frost: Thank you.

Jordan McKay: I'm Jordan McKay.

Dave Blanks: So Jordan, it's March, in like a lion, out like a...

Jordan McKay: ... tiger.

Dave Blanks: In like a lion, out like a lamb.

Jordan McKay: Interesting.

Dave Blanks: It pertains to the weather. Do you think that you are more of a lion or a lamb?

Jordan McKay: I'm more of a lion because that's my astrology sign as a Leo and I have red hair that used to look like a mane when it was really long.

Dave Blanks: Right on. I love those answers. That's perfect reasoning. And then the last part is what are you doing for spring break?

Jordan McKay: I'm going on an ASE program to DC to help out with some LGBTQ populations.

Dave Blanks: What is ASE for people who don't know what that is?

Jordan McKay: It's Alternative Service Experience and we do an alternative break, basically.

Dave Blanks: Like you could go to the beach, but instead...

Jordan McKay: Right, we're doing service. Maybe at the beach.

Dave Blanks: Right. Okay, cool. Well I hope you enjoy yourself and help lot of people.

Jordan McKay: Thank you so much.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, thank you.

Dave Blanks: Fantastic answers. Not many people know the old saying. Thanks to everybody who let me bother them. All the students. I appreciate your time. That's another one in the books, y'all. I'm Dave Blanks. This has been Dave by the Bell.

On this Valentine's Day special, Dave interviews App State students to discover what they truly love.

Dave Blanks: February the 14th. Valentine's day, folks. So when I say that, does it strike dark, fearful, dread to the very core of your heart? Or, does it carry you away on a sweet zephyr with like chocolate whispers, and pink stuff, and red stuff, and stuff that smells good and that kind of you know lovey stuff? Love, right? Love is the topic for today, on the Valentine's Dave by the Bell.

Dave Blanks: Ha ha.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. I'm asking App State students about a love that they had back then. They still have it now. Come along with me, won't you? The answers are waiting for us right out on Sanford Mall.

Lauren Stander: I really like going on outdoor adventures, like hiking. But also pretending along the way that I'm doing something else.

Dave Blanks: Like what?

Lauren Stander: Like I'm in Lord of The Rings or something.

Dave Blanks: Heck yes. All right. So, I love that. Okay. And can you do me a favor and finish this sentence? Love is...

Lauren Stander: Communication.

Quinn Fisher: I'm Quinn Fisher. I'd say drawing. My sister one day came home from art class and she drew what she called manga. It was not manga, or manga. It was horrifying. But that started all four of us drawing and competing with one another.

Dave Blanks: Was she your older sister?

Quinn Fisher: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Okay.

Quinn Fisher: She was in fourth grade, I was in kindergarten.

Dave Blanks: And you saw what she brought home from art class, and in kindergarten you were so horrified.

Quinn Fisher: Oh, I thought it was phenomenal at the time.

Dave Blanks: Oh, you loved it? Oh.

Quinn Fisher: Looking back, we all cringe at our old art though. It's like...

Dave Blanks: Wait. So at the time you were like blown away?

Quinn Fisher: Oh, I was totally impressed.

Dave Blanks: Well, give your sister a shout out for being the inspiration for the thing that you still love.

Quinn Fisher: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: So, what's your sister's name?

Quinn Fisher: Arafel Fisher.

Dave Blanks: All right.

Quinn Fisher: She's great.

Dave Blanks: All right. Arafel?

Quinn Fisher: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. So now can you finish this sentence? Love is...

Quinn Fisher: Fulfilling. It nourishes you.

Dave Blanks: Ah.

Quinn Fisher: It doesn't matter what you love, as long as it gives you that warm feeling and makes you happy. You don't have to love someone or be in a relationship. Just...

Dave Blanks: Draw something cool for Valentine's day.

Quinn Fisher: Draw something cool from Valentine's day!

Clara Upsall: I'm Clara Upsall.

Clara Upsall: Music.

Dave Blanks: Okay. What was the first music that you fell in love with?

Clara Upsall: Oh God. Taylor Swift.

Dave Blanks: T Swizzle. All right. What song by Taylor Swift were you like, "Yes, this is my jam."?

Clara Upsall: Our song...

Dave Blanks: Our song?

Clara Upsall: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Oh, is that... Is that the Tim McGraw thing?

Clara Upsall: No.

Dave Blanks: No, no.

Clara Upsall: That's a new one, though.

Dave Blanks: How does Our... Tim McGraw is really good. How does Our Song go?

Clara Upsall: "Our song is a slamming screen door."

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah. The slamming screen door song.

Clara Upsall: Yeah, that one.

Dave Blanks: All right, I won't make you sing anymore of it.

Clara Upsall: Okay.

Dave Blanks: That was great. That's a good one. So you still love Taylor Swift?

Clara Upsall: No, I hate her now.

Dave Blanks: Wait! No, the point was you've got to have something that you love.

Clara Upsall: Oh, that I still love?

Dave Blanks: That you still love.

Clara Upsall: Oh, I said music.

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah, that's right. And she was the first one.

Clara Upsall: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, but music. Overarching, music.

Clara Upsall: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, okay. All right. Fair enough. Fair enough.

Clara Upsall: Yes, mm-hmm (affirmative).

Dave Blanks: Okay. All right. Here's the second part. Can you finish this sentence just right off the top of your head? Love is...

Clara Upsall: Hard.

Dave Blanks: Love is hard.

Clara Upsall: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. Okay. What's hard about love?

Clara Upsall: Oh man. Finding it.

Dave Blanks: Yeah?

Colin Bokhoven: I am Colin Bokhoven. I loved my pets in the past, and I guess I love my new ones.

Dave Blanks: Tell me about your pets that you have now that you love.

Colin Bokhoven: Currently I have two snakes, but I used to own cats, dogs, birds.

Dave Blanks: What are your snakes names?

Colin Bokhoven: Apollo and Chupacabra.

Dave Blanks: What kind of snake is Apollo?

Colin Bokhoven: Corn snake.

Dave Blanks: And Chupacabra, also a corn snake?

Colin Bokhoven: Nope, he's a ball Python.

Dave Blanks: Right on. How long have you had Apollo and Chupacabra?

Colin Bokhoven: Apollo for 11 years.

Dave Blanks: Whoa.

Colin Bokhoven: And the other one for two and a half.

Dave Blanks: So which one's your... I can't really make you choose favorites.

Colin Bokhoven: Oh no, I have a favorite.

Dave Blanks: Oh, Apollo's clearly your favorite.

Colin Bokhoven: Yeah, the other one's a little mean.

Dave Blanks: Okay. Well, you know, maybe he'll mellow out when he gets older.

Colin Bokhoven: Hopefully.

Dave Blanks: Well good luck making Chupacabra chill out. Oh Hey. And here's the second part. Finish this sentence. Love is...

Colin Bokhoven: The death of me.

Dave Blanks: "Our song is a slamming screen door...

Cyndal Guffy: I'm [inaudible 00:04:17]. I'd have to say science. I like learning about planets and everything, and about animals and everything when I was younger. And as that sort of... I've gained more knowledge in that subject. It's just expanded how much there is to love about it.

Dave Blanks: Do you want to give a shout out to somebody from your childhood that maybe supported you in loving the planets and learning about animals?

Cyndal Guffy: Probably my mom. Just because... I know that's probably a generic answer, but...

Dave Blanks: No, it was a great answer. Yeah. Not every mom is super supportive of that. So your mom was.

Cyndal Guffy: Yeah, she always said that if you have something you want to reach for, always reach for it.

Dave Blanks: I love that. Okay. Now finish this sentence, and then we'll be done and you can go on about your life. So can you tell me, finish this sentence. Love is...

Cyndal Guffy: What you make of it. It's your actions. It's who you think about at the end of the day, or whenever you find something cool online that you want to share it with. It's small acts, and it's big things, too.

Adam Zebzda: I'm Adam Zebzda.

Adam Zebzda: I love procrastinating, back then and still today.

Dave Blanks: What about procrastination do you love? Because it stresses me out when I do it, although I do it like I love it.

Adam Zebzda: The adrenaline is worth the risk.

Dave Blanks: Ah. You feed off the adrenaline.

Adam Zebzda: I feed off the adrenaline.

Dave Blanks: Do you feel like you're better because you're freaking out about it?

Adam Zebzda: Who doesn't love a silent panic attack?

Dave Blanks: I'm having one right now.

Adam Zebzda: Exactly. Exactly.

Dave Blanks: Can you finish this sentence? Love...

Adam Zebzda: Fake.

Victoria O'Conner: I'm Victoria O'Connor. I love horses.

Dave Blanks: What was the first horse that you loved?

Victoria O'Conner: This horse named Lady.

Dave Blanks: What was so great about Lady?

Victoria O'Conner: She was the first horse I ever road.

Dave Blanks: That was it? That was all she had to do was show up and be the only horse there, and you're like, "I love you Lady."?

Victoria O'Conner: Yes.

Dave Blanks: Is there...

Victoria O'Conner: I had low expectations when I was a kid.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, well, you hadn't had any other experiences. This is the first horse you ever were riding. Okay, cool. So, here's the second part of the question. Finish this sentence. Love is...

Victoria O'Conner: Kind.

Dave Blanks: Oh, that's good.

Jorma: My name is Jorma.

Dave Blanks: And Yourma, who is this here?

Jorma: This is my girlfriend Molly.

Dave Blanks: Hi Molly.

Molly: Hi.

Dave Blanks: So Valentine's is coming up and it's all about love, right? Lovey-dovey.

Jorma: Supposedly.

Dave Blanks: You are holding hands, having a good time.

Jorma: I didn't say I didn't love her, I just said Valentine's Day might not be...

Dave Blanks: No, no. She's great. Feelings... So, Jorma, your feelings about Valentine's.

Jorma: More of a corporate holiday than anything else.

Dave Blanks: Gotcha.

Jorma: But the girls like it.

Dave Blanks: Molly?

Molly: I just want him to buy me flowers.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, perfect. Easy. You got this. All right.

Jorma: Well, fair enough.

Dave Blanks: So here's the question. Jorma...

Jorma: Yes.

Dave Blanks: Can you name something that you loved when you were younger that you still love to this day?

Jorma: I love star Wars. Greatest thing ever.

Dave Blanks: Right. Awesome. Molly?

Molly: I love the Beatles.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, Star Wars and the Beatles? All right, that's awesome. All right, finish this sentence. Love...

Molly: Nice.

Dave Blanks: It is nice! Jorma, you finish it. Love is...

Jorma: Work.

Dave Blanks: Love is work.

Molly: Thanks.

Jorma: But worth it, but worth it. Get that in there, but worth it.

Dave Blanks: Work that's worth it. All right. All right. Excellent. Hey, y'all have a fantastic Valentine's day.

Molly: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Thanks for your answers.

Lauren: My name is Lauren.

Dave Blanks: Something you loved when you were younger that you still love now. Go.

Lauren: Cartoons.

Dave Blanks: Okay. What's your favorite cartoon?

Lauren: Scooby Doo.

Dave Blanks: What monster do you think is the coolest monster?

Lauren: Oh, you can't choose that.

Dave Blanks: I'm putting you on the spot. There are so many monsters.

Angel Martinez: Angel Martinez. I love cartoons.

Dave Blanks: What cartoon do you love the most?

Angel Martinez: Any of them.

Dave Blanks: Scooby Doo. Your feelings about Scooby doo?

Angel Martinez: Scooby Doo? I used to be big in Scooby Doo.

Dave Blanks: That was what the last girl said. I was really hoping you'd be like, "Yeah, Scooby Doo is my favorite." And that'd be like "Go get her!" All right. That was a great answer. Okay. Can you finish this sentence and then I'll totally leave you alone? Love is...

Angel Martinez: I have no idea.

Dave Blanks: Star Wars, the Beatles, cartoons and cartoons.

Jack Lusk: I'm Jack Lusk. I love discovering things. Finding out new things and going new places.

Dave Blanks: Where do you think you got this need to discover and explore?

Jack Lusk: I had some woods behind my house, some really tall trees. So, climbing trees, going in the woods, thinking I found something cool even though it might've been like a broken bottle or something like that.

Dave Blanks: Do you feel like you've still retained this fascination with mystery like that?

Jack Lusk: Yeah. I find I'm finding something new every day or learning something new everyday, it kind of takes away from mediocrity of doing the same thing.

Dave Blanks: Are you studying to be a treasure hunter here at Appalachian State?

Jack Lusk: Dude, I wish. But no, I'm astrophysics.

Dave Blanks: Oh.

Jack Lusk: So I feel like I can definitely find some new stuff out in space.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. You can make some serious discoveries. All right. Finish this sentence. Love is...

Jack Lusk: A treasure.

Dave Blanks: Oh, Yeah. Love is a treasure. That's nice, that's a really nice.

Kevion Chunn: I'm Kevion Chunn. I love McDonald's chicken nuggets.

Dave Blanks: Do you remember when you first fell in love with McDonald's chicken nuggets?

Kevion Chunn: Yes.

Dave Blanks: When was it?

Kevion Chunn: I was five.

Dave Blanks: What happened?

Kevion Chunn: I had honey mustard.

Dave Blanks: Ooh. That's good stuff. All right. You still sticking with the same dipping sauce, too?

Kevion Chunn: No, now I go for the McDonald's sauce.

Dave Blanks: Everybody has their own specialty sauce now.

Kevion Chunn: Yeah, it's all the same, though. Cook Out has the same one as like Chick-fil-A. And Chick-Fil-A had the same one as Zaxby's. It's all the same.

Dave Blanks: Bo Jangles has one that's kind of slightly different, I feel like. Finish this sentence. Love is...

Kevion Chunn: Complicated.

Dave Blanks: Thank you for your answers.

Kevion Chunn: Sorry?

Dave Blanks: Have a good Valentine's. No, it's good. I appreciate you. Thank you.

Kevion Chunn: No problem.

Riley Caldwell: I'm Riley Caldwell. I love books. The first book that I really cried over was The Book Thief. And, it's really good.

Dave Blanks: Yeah?

Riley Caldwell: It's really sad, but it's really good.

Dave Blanks: All right. What about a book recommendation in reference to Valentine's Day?

Riley Caldwell: If you're alone for Valentine's Day...

Dave Blanks: Right.

Riley Caldwell: You're A Badass is a really good book.

Dave Blanks: Okay.

Riley Caldwell: It's good for self-confidence. So, if you are thinking really negatively about what's going on in your life right now, you just need to keep focusing and keep working on getting towards your goals, because you'll get there eventually.

Dave Blanks: Awesome.

Riley Caldwell: A lot of manifestation kind of stuff.

Dave Blanks: Awesome. Cool. Riley, can you finish this sentence for me, and then I'll let you go?

Riley Caldwell: Okay.

Dave Blanks: Love is...

Riley Caldwell: Special. Love is special.

Dave Blanks: Thank you Riley.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: I'm Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis.

Dave Blanks: All right, Kaleb. So, it's almost Valentine's. Did you know that?

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: I did.

Dave Blanks: All right. How do you feel about Valentine's? Are you pro-Valentine's, anti-Valentines, or neutral?

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: I love it.

Dave Blanks: What do you love about it?

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: Falling in love and seeing people in love. But unfortunately, I'm a single guy.

Dave Blanks: Oh no, Kaleb.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: So, if anybody's listening to this who needs a boyfriend, you have my name.

Dave Blanks: How would they contact you?

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: Yeah, you can get my Instagram. It's a Laleb_and_Loki. L-O-K-I.

Dave Blanks: You will certainly find someone, I'm sure. So, Kaleb, here's the question. Name something you loved when you were younger that you still love to this very day.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: I love video games.

Dave Blanks: What was your first video game that was like, "This one I love"?

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: I think, Legend of Zelda. Majora's Mask.

Dave Blanks: What about Majora's Mask did you love so much?

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: That's a good story. You know that was back when you couldn't Google everything in video games. You had to figure it out for yourself.

Dave Blanks: It was a different time, right? A simpler time.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: It was.

Dave Blanks: Finish this sentence and I'll let you go. It looks like your cold. Love is...

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: Great.

Dave Blanks: Thanks Kaleb.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: Yeah, thank you.

Dave Blanks: You did great. Yeah, appreciate it.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: So the podcast is called Dave By The Bell. It's on iTunes and Spotify.

Kaleb Geisler-Zukaitis: Dave By The Bell. When will you put this on?

Dave Blanks: Soon. All right? Have a good day. Kaleb. You're in there, okay, don't worry about it. God, Kaleb.

Dave Blanks: A lot of positive love vibes going on here for Valentine's day. Some people spending Valentine's a with the one they love. Some people spending it alone. But just remember, on Valentine's day you are a bad ass. Hey students, thank you for talking to me. I appreciate you bearing your heart and sharing what you love. Happy Valentine's, everyone out there. I'm Dave Blanks, and this has been Dave By The Bell.

Appalachian State University students share surprising and embarrassing moments from their recent Fall Break.

Dave Blanks: Hey folks, what's up? My name's Dave Blanks from University Communications and I'm back again with a Dave By The Bell. On this edition of Dave By The Bell, the students are smack dab in the middle of final examinations. They're walking around being stressed out, potentially. Maybe they're super prepared, possibly they are not super prepared. They're in final exams now, but they also just came from the holiday break, Thanksgiving. Many of them celebrated, so that means that they were in close proximity to their family and sometimes when you hang out with your family, maybe something embarrassing could occur, something surprising might occur. So we're looking for surprises or potentially embarrassing things that happened, because those are fun stories.

Katie Hines: I'm Katie Hines, so my brother is a really big stickler on everything and he saw my grandma pour a glass of wine and he said, "How many is that?"

Dave Blanks: Oh my gosh.

Katie Hines: He's only nine.

Dave Blanks: What?

Katie Hines: He's a major rule follower.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, a real rule follower. What do you think he's going to do when he grows up?

Katie Hines: He wants to be a lawyer, it makes a lot of sense.

Dave Blanks: What's his name? Can you say his name?

Katie Hines: His name is Henry.

Dave Blanks: Okay, how long has Henry been such a rule follower?

Katie Hines: Always. He's always been like that. We're used to it, but we can break the smallest rule and it will not get by him.

Dave Blanks: He's going to be like a hall monitor.

Katie Hines: Oh yeah, he is at his school.

Dave Blanks: Wow.

Katie Hines: Yeah, he's on the safety patrol.

Dave Blanks: I kind of respect that. He knows what he wants and he's doing it.

Katie Hines: He does know what he wants. He's very set on everything.

Dave Blanks: How did your grandma handle it?

Katie Hines: We just laugh because we're used to it by now, it's like-

Dave Blanks: Oh, Henry.

Katie Hines: It's, whatever at this point.

Avery Pope: I'm Avery Pope. Yeah, my cousin was kind of being weird and rude to everyone.

Dave Blanks: Okay, rude cousin?

Avery Pope: So we cut it short.

Dave Blanks: So that was unexpected.

Avery Pope: Yes, that was unexpected.

Dave Blanks: All right, maybe he was having an off day.

Avery Pope: Yeah, he just got a dog, the dog is really cute.

Dave Blanks: Well then the dog should improve his mood.

Avery Pope: Yeah, it didn't.

Dave Blanks: It's a big responsibility too. Maybe it's keeping him up at night. Is it a puppy?

Avery Pope: It is.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, maybe that's it, he's cracking under the pressure. Puppy pressure.

Avery Pope: Oh yeah.

Dave Blanks: Thanks Avery.

Avery Pope: Of course.

Alex Lipovan: I'm Alex Lipovan. I choked.

Dave Blanks: What?

Alex Lipovan: I choked on my food.

Dave Blanks: You did?

Alex Lipovan: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: What was it you were eating?

Alex Lipovan: It was mashed potatoes.

Dave Blanks: How did you do that?

Alex Lipovan: I know, I think I was talking and then eating at the same time and just-

Dave Blanks: How bad was it?

Alex Lipovan: I was tearing up.

Dave Blanks: Oh man, that's pretty bad.

Alex Lipovan: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Did anybody try to help you?

Alex Lipovan: No.

Dave Blanks: What did they do?

Alex Lipovan: They just kind of sat there and watched.

Dave Blanks: At least they didn't laugh.

Alex Lipovan: I got lucky it was mashed potatoes.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, for real. I've never choked on mashed potatoes.

Alex Lipovan: Yeah, I don't know how it happened.

Dave Blanks: I figured you would say it's some kind of bone, or something like that.

Alex Lipovan: No.

Dave Blanks: Turkey bone.

Alex Lipovan: No.

Dave Blanks: No, taters.

Alex Lipovan: Yeah, taters.

Seth Douglas: My name is Seth Douglas. Well, most of my family's from Maryland, so we had a crab bake instead of a turkey dinner.

Dave Blanks: That sounds awesome.

Seth Douglas: And my grandfather made a very big mess under the table.

Dave Blanks: How did he do that?

Seth Douglas: Well, we were breaking the crabs and so most people were keeping it on the table, like grown adults. But I went to my grandfather's side of the table and I found it like what you'd expect like a little kid having.

Dave Blanks: Did you call him out?

Seth Douglas: Oh yeah, we called him out the whole entire rest of the vacation.

Dave Blanks: Did he continue this kind of behavior throughout the rest of the vacation?

Seth Douglas: Oh yeah, he's an ornery old man.

Dave Blanks: Wow, he sounds like a character. So what's your grandpa's name?

Seth Douglas: His name is Captain Dave.

Dave Blanks: Captain Dave. Was he actually a captain?

Seth Douglas: Yeah, he was a captain in the coast guard.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Captain Dave. Here's to you.

Eliza King: I'm Eliza King. No, my family's pretty embarrassing all the time.

Dave Blanks: So you were totally not surprised by any of the embarrassing stuff that happened.

Eliza King: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: All right, gotcha.

Hope Frohock: I'm Hope Frohock. I don't know, I guess ... We went to my sister's house for Thanksgiving. It was their first time hosting it.

Dave Blanks: Oh, is she a new homeowner or something?

Hope Frohock: Yeah, they just got a new house.

Dave Blanks: Okay, do they have any kids, or just the two of them?

Hope Frohock: Yeah, they have three kids.

Dave Blanks: Three kids?

Hope Frohock: Yeah, so pretty wild.

Dave Blanks: So, they were always there, but it was at somebody else's house.

Hope Frohock: Yeah, yeah.

Dave Blanks: Okay, how did they do?

Hope Frohock: It was interesting.

Dave Blanks: Okay, what was different?

Hope Frohock: It was just a little more chaotic since usually my mom is the one who sets up. So it was just all over the place.

Dave Blanks: But mom was there?

Hope Frohock: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: How did she enjoy it? What was she like? "Not so easy, is it?"

Hope Frohock: Yeah, exactly, yeah.

Allison Eller: I'm Alison Eller. I don't know if anyone else does this, but we have the little poppers where you pop it open and you have the little colored crowns.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Allison Eller: So we all had colored crowns on and we're playing with our toys at the Thanksgiving table and I thought that might be a little odd.

Dave Blanks: So what was your toy?

Allison Eller: Oh, I had a little kaleidoscope.

Dave Blanks: Oh sweet.

Allison Eller: Yeah, it was cool.

Dylan Coleman: I'm Dylan Coleman. I don't know, I was at the Thanksgiving dinner table and we were going around saying things we're thankful for. Of course, I'm a college student and I haven't seen my family for almost a semester-ish. So they're asking me college questions and just expecting very profound answers and immaculate experiences that I don't have yet. But yes, I just kind of told them vaguely of like how my semester's going. I don't know, I guess they were expecting something huge.

Dave Blanks: How long have you been here?

Dylan Coleman: I've been here for a semester, I'm a freshman, yeah.

Dave Blanks: That's it? Yeah.

Dylan Coleman: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, what do they expect?

Dylan Coleman: Exactly, so yeah.

Dave Blanks: It'll get profound, I'm sure.

Dave Blanks: Or maybe not.

Dylan Coleman: Yeah, maybe not.

Mario Espinoza: I'm Mario Espinoza. I was with my girlfriend's family. They live in Valdez, which is close to where we live.

Dave Blanks: Valdez, yeah, right? What's your girlfriend's name?

Mario Espinoza: Shea.

Dave Blanks: When you were hanging out with Shea's family, did anything unexpected, maybe embarrassing happen?

Mario Espinoza: Absolutely.

Dave Blanks: What? Oh, great. Do tell.

Mario Espinoza: She has this cute little nephew named Lan and I love-

Dave Blanks: Lan?

Mario Espinoza: L-A-N, Lan. I love playing with him. He's only six years old, but I just accidentally pushed him. He fell back and hit his head on the couch.

Dave Blanks: No, ow.

Mario Espinoza: I was like, "I am so sorry." It was terrible.

Dave Blanks: Oh, did anybody witness it?

Mario Espinoza: No one else did, so I could just play it off. I was like, "Oh, he hit himself." You know?

Dave Blanks: "Lan, I don't know, he just fell over."

Mario Espinoza: No, but I was very apologetic.

Dave Blanks: Is he okay?

Mario Espinoza: He's totally fine.

Dave Blanks: Well, thank goodness for that. Poor Lan.

Mario Espinoza: Yeah.

Grace Le: I'm Grace Le.

Dave Blanks: So Grace, did you go home for Thanksgiving?

Grace Le: Yes I did.

Dave Blanks: Okay, cool. Did you hang out with your family?

Grace Le: All the time.

Dave Blanks: Constantly, right? No escape.

Grace Le: No.

Dave Blanks: So did anything unexpected or potentially embarrassing happen?

Grace Le: Yeah, so Saturday I went to Concord Mills, it's like a mall. My sister lost her phone, so I was running around the whole place, trying to find it and then I ran into a kid, like the kid fell.

Dave Blanks: How old was he?

Grace Le: I don't know but the kid was probably around like toddler, I guess. I don't know.

Dave Blanks: You smashed into a toddler?

Grace Le: I felt so bad and then I was like, "I'm so sorry." And then the mom looked and then I just ran. I was like, "I can't, I can't do this!"

Dave Blanks: You didn't help him up or anything? You just, "Run away."

Grace Le: Yeah, because if I'd helped, I feel like the mom would've been like, "I can't believe ran over him."

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah. So did you find your sister's phone?

Grace Le: Yeah, we did.

Dave Blanks: Thank goodness. I hope that kid's okay.

Grace Le: Let's hope so too.

Dave Blanks: I hope the cops don't catch up with you.

Grace Le: I'm going home.

Dave Blanks: Get out of here.

Dave Blanks: I was looking for fun answers and I did get some fun answers. Thanks App State students. Hopefully you out there listening got sort of a vibe for what it's like as an App State student when you go home. Was that what the mission was? I don't know. I think that's what we accomplished. Either way, I'm Dave Blanks and this has been Dave By The Bell.

Dave Blanks: You can listen to Dave By The Bell, wherever you get your podcasts like Stitcher or iTunes and on a Spotify. Yeah, so check us out. Search for Dave By The Bell. Tell a friend, write a review. I would be very thankful and if I saw you and you told me that you wrote me a review, I would give you a solid, super cool high five. Thanks very much to Pete Montaldi who handles our web stuff along with Derek Wycoff, also on the web team and Alex Waterworth, thanks to Chase Reynolds for additional photography. Thanks to you listener, for your time. Have a fantastic day and I will talk to you next time.

 In this video edition of Dave By The Bell, Dave talks to the Class of 2019 at Appalachian State's Fall Commencement and asks them, "What's the biggest change you've seen in yourself from your very first day on campus?" We are treated to heartfelt answers, reflective memories, and, of course...Dave being Dave. Listen to other Dave by the Bell episodes here: dave.podcasts.appstate.edu 

University Communications' Dave Blanks asks current Appalachian students what they would share about App State with a friend who is considering attending the university. Spoiler alert: Everyone loves Appalachian State University.

Dave Blanks: Hey folks, I'm Dave Blanks, from University Communications back with one of them old, Dave by Bells everybody's been talking about all the time. On this Dave by the Bell, what we're trying to figure out is, if you are talking to a friend of yours from back home who's considering coming to Appalachian State, what do you tell them? What aspect of Appalachian State would you share with this friend to encourage them to come to App? So that's the question. Let's go ask some people and get some answers.

Erin Moriarty: I'm Erin Moriarty.

Dave Blanks: OK. Erin, so what year are you?

Erin Moriarty: I'm a senior.

Dave Blanks: Cool. So you've been here a little bit, you're familiar with Appalachian State?

Erin Moriarty: I am.

Dave Blanks: OK. So, if you were talking to somebody who was a senior, high school.

Erin Moriarty: OK.

Dave Blanks: If they were like, "Erin, why do you think I should come to App?"

Erin Moriarty: If I'm trying to convince them?

Dave Blanks: Yeah. I guess you are trying to convince them, if you, in fact, love App. I'm not trying to put that —

Erin Moriarty: I do in fact.

Dave Blanks: OK, good.

Erin Moriarty: I like App for these reasons.

Dave Blanks: Yes.

Erin Moriarty: I think you can be an individual and there's groups for you to find your place.

Dave Blanks: Mmm hmm (affirmative).

Erin Moriarty: If you like sororities or frats, we have that. If you like hiking or mountains or fun stuff outside, we have that. If you want to go to school, we have that.

Dave Blanks: Like, if you're educationally focused?

Erin Moriarty: Yeah. We have that.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Erin Moriarty: And you can dress how you want, be who you want. There's not really a whole lot of judgment, I think. Yes, it's a good place to be.

Dave Blanks: Do you feel like App's different from many other colleges in that respect?

Erin Moriarty: I do.

Dave Blanks: OK.

Erin Moriarty: I think that's what sets us apart the most, is there's a unique feel in Boone for sure.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, cool.

Erin Moriarty: Yeah.

Jamie Morales: I am Jamie Morales. One of my deciding factors for App, was just looking on campus. There's so many places that you can just hang out, and it's so chill and everything's so green.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Jamie Morales: So, I feel like you can't really get that in other campuses. I don't know, like NC State.

Dave Blanks: Right.

Jamie Morales: Would be a bunch of concrete, and here you can walk around and there's just a bunch of green.

Kevion Chunn: I'm Kevion Chunn. Just an overall nice campus. The views are always nice, there's a lot of stuff to do. I can go hiking here, go to see the waterfalls. It's fun overall, and the classes aren't even that hard.

Dave Blanks: What are you taking?

Kevion Chunn: Gen eds right now, because I'm undecided for my major.

Dave Blanks: Well, nice man. You're doing great. Good job. Keep it up.

Devon Roddel: I'm Devon Roddel. I've lived for the most part in Florida. So I would tell them if they're from Florida, I know they're going to care that there's not mosquitoes up here. That's a big deal.

Dave Blanks: Score.

Devon Roddel: Yeah. There's a lot of appeal up here. You don't sweat just from being outside.

Dave Blanks: Mmm hmm (affirmative).

Devon Roddel: The environment's truly beautiful. But also, being in Boone and being on campus, there's a hospitality that's extended to everyone. And I don't know if that's unique to the university or unique to the town, but I think that's a really big draw that you don't see in a lot of other places. It's just an automatic communal feeling regardless of if you're actually involved in any of the tons of events going on campus, so —

Austin Simmons: Hi, I'm Austin Simmons. Well, I have some friends — they're actually in other graduate programs at other universities. And they're actually having to take out about $30,000 in loans, just to go to school. At a place where they're going, like Wake Forest University, for example. Going to Appalachian State University .... it's number one affordable and they also offer teaching assistantships that you won't be able to get elsewhere. So it's really great financially for the student.

Dave Blanks: Why wouldn't you be able to get the assistantships, like say at Wake Forest, or it would be harder to?

Austin Simmons: Yeah. Well, Wake Forest University, it's a private school, so they don't offer a state-mandated teaching assistantship. So they're not able to because it's funded by the state. So, if you're in a UNC System school, you actually have that advantage. But it also differs by the college you go to and the amount of funds that are allocated to that specific department.

Dave Blanks: Just one more question about it. What would be the benefit of getting that teaching assistantship? Why would you want that?

Austin Simmons: Well, it covers all of my tuition, actually, and more.

Dave Blanks: Wow.

Austin Simmons: The more money the merrier, right?

Dave Blanks: That's great.

Phoenix Tefel: I'm Phoenix Tefel. I would say that it's a very unique campus. It's got a really good environment because it's not too big of a town, but it's still like a college town.

Dave Blanks: Mmm hmm (affirmative).

Phoenix Tefel: It's probably the most unique college, I would say, that I've at least been on campus for.

Dave Blanks: So what are you studying here?

Phoenix Tefel: I'm studying creative writing.

Dave Blanks: Oh. What do you like about this program? I know you haven't gone to other programs, but what are you enjoying about App's creative writing?

Phoenix Tefel: I really like all the other creative writing students. I've made a lot of progress here, within my own writing and the professors are all very salient and helpful. It's a really good supportive program.

Regino Matos: I am Regino Matos. Mostly because of the environment.

Dave Blanks: OK. Do you mean like the physical environment?

Regino Matos: The physical environment.

Dave Blanks: What do you —

Regino Matos: The mountains.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. OK. The mountains.

Regino Matos: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: So what do you like about the mountains?

Regino Matos: I like that it's a cool area, is not real hot. When it gets here, there's always the wind coming through.

Dave Blanks: Mmm hmm (affirmative).

Regino Matos: I like hiking, so —

Dave Blanks: Perfect. Where's your favorite spot to hit up?

Regino Matos: Moses Cone.

J.T Morris: I'm J.T Morris. It's a small-big school, I like to call it. It's got like a feel of like a smaller school, the campus size and everything. But at the same time there's a lot of amenities and clubs that you can join. So there's like something for everybody here. It's not really limited in the scope.

Brittany A.: I'm Brittany Anderson. And I really like the mountains, but I've come to like it a lot more because it's really welcoming, and all the teachers and professors, so far, have been really helpful with everything, so ...

Dave Blanks: Did you tour other colleges before you decided on App?

Brittany A.: At UNCW, I went on a tour. ECU, NC state, the ones closer around home, but —

Dave Blanks: I got you. Was there a difference in your tour at App versus those schools?

Brittany A.: Yeah, they seemed a lot nicer.

Dave Blanks: All right.

Parker Hallman: I am Parker Hallman. It feels a lot more low-stress than I got on the other campuses, like the vibes from it. And it is honestly just a really great community. I feel like everyone really supports each other here and everyone's really connected on campus.

Mattie Thomas: I am Mattie Thomas. It's such a happy environment. Everybody's so positive and happy and they don't judge, and it's just free spirit kind of. And you always learn new things around campus, which is really cool.

Dave Blanks: What is your name?

Lexie Green: I am Lexie Green. I was just going to kind of add onto what she said. Everybody that you meet, they always have a smile on their face, like —

Mattie Thomas: And they're always so friendly, they'll talk to you.

Lexie Green: Yeah. Students and staff — everybody is always so nice.

Dave Blanks: Even Dave?

Lexie Green: Even Dave, yes.

Bethany Smith: I'm Bethany Rogers Smith. If anything, I'd have to say the experience of getting to know so many people of diverse backgrounds, people that come from different nations, different cultures and stuff. This place is so open to people that are of different origins and it's a good way to get to know the rest of the world, or at least take a step to it. And it's kind of fun just to get to see all the artwork and stuff. It's very artistic, very healthy environment kind of college, which is something that, personally, really draws me there. And I think that if you want to help make a difference to the world this is definitely the place to be.

John Wynn: I'm John Wynn.

Dave Blanks: OK, cool. And what is your name?

Madison Taylor: I'm Madison Taylor.

John Wynn: Well, I chose to come to App because it has a great community here, and the views are amazing.

Dave Blanks: Perfect. Madison?

Madison Taylor: I would say that just like everybody is really friendly here, and everyone's really inviting. And it's just a great school to be at, because everyone's just so open and you're easy to get along with everyone.

Sarah Jones: I'm Sarah Jones. Your question kind of makes me think back about my first week coming to App. In the first place, I walked on campus and I was walking through Sanford Mall.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Sarah Jones: And I ran into about 20 people I counted, that looked me dead in the eyes and smiled at me.

Dave Blanks: Aw.

Sarah Jones: And That's how I knew I came to the right school. Then everyone was talking to me saying, "Hey," and it's very heartwarming. So I felt really welcomed.

Dave Blanks: Well, you smiled at me when I first came up to you. And you were probably like, "You were like that when you came here," right?

Sarah Jones: Yeah, probably.

Dave Blanks: I think App does attract that kind of person. That's a great answer!

Sarah Jones: Mmm hmm (affirmative). Yeah.

Dave Blanks: So many fantastic answers from everyone I talked to. Sincerely appreciate everyone who answered my question, and yeah. How should I wrap this one up? How about, come to App, because it's exceptionally beautiful and everyone is very kind. There you go; that's a wrap. I'm Dave Blanks, this has been Dave by the Bell.

In this video edition of Dave by the Bell, Dave talks to parents and students during Family Weekend at Appalachian to ask them, "What is some advice you gave your Mountaineer before they came to college...AND...are they following that advice?"

Check out other Dave by the Bell episodes here: http://dave.podcasts.appstate.edu

All Dave by the Bell podcasts can be enjoyed at http://podcasts.appstate.edu or by searching for "Dave by the Bell" on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Appalachian State University | https://www.appstate.edu

 In this video edition of Dave by the Bell, Dave Blanks of Appalachian's University Communications interviews first-year students and their parents during Move-in Day 2019 to discover the strange and unusual things they've brought with them to the residence halls. Other Dave by the Bell podcasts can be found at https://dave.podcasts.appstate.edu or by searching for "Dave by the Bell" on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Appalachian State University | https://www.appstate.edu

Dave Blanks of Appalachian's University Communications interviews first-year students and their parents during Move-in Day 2019 to discover the strange and unusual things they've brought with them to the residence halls.

Dave Blanks: And here we are at Hoey Residence Hall. Glorious Hoey, in all its splendor. This was my, we called it a dormitory when I was in school, way back in 2000, but now it's called a Residence Hall. And we're talking to students who are moving into Hoey. That's what we're going to be doing on campus today. Talking to Appalachian State students, who are moving in, and their parents. And we're asking them what is the strangest thing that you have brought with you to campus? So, let's do it.

Dave Blanks: So you're a volunteer?

Elizabeth: Yes.

Dave Blanks: What is your name?

Elizabeth: Elizabeth.

Dave Blanks: Hey, Elizabeth. I'm Dave.

Dave Blanks: So what's something unusual that you've seen somebody bring in? And thank you for volunteering, as well.

Elizabeth: Absolutely.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Elizabeth: Ooh, one guy brought in four lemon trees.

Dave Blanks: What, a student brought in four lemon trees?

Elizabeth: Yes. He grew them from seed. They were two years old, and he said it would be another two years before they produce lemons.

Dave Blanks: No kidding. Four of them. Which Residence Hall is this?

Elizabeth: This is Lovill.

Dave Blanks: Okay. So does Lovill have like, enough room, for four lemon trees per room?

Elizabeth: I don't think so.

Dave Blanks: Do you think he's going to plant them outside?

Elizabeth: Maybe.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Elizabeth: I don't know where he's from.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah. Wow. Cool. All right, well that's-

Elizabeth: That's definitely unusual.

Dave Blanks: ... That was very unusual. Thanks Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: Yeah, you're welcome.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool.

Kaylen Herba: I'm [Kaylen Herba 00.

Dave Blanks: Kaylen Herba. Hello.

Kaylen Herba: Hi.

Dave Blanks: I'm Dave Blanks.

Dave Blanks: So you just moved into, what Residence Hall?

Kaylen Herba: Lovill Hall.

Dave Blanks: How did it go?

Kaylen Herba: It went good. I just checked in, but.

Dave Blanks: Sweet. All right.

Kaylen Herba: Got a few more things.

Dave Blanks: So you've been to campus before, but-

Kaylen Herba: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: ... but move in day was, how did it go for you? It seems like, pretty smooth.

Kaylen Herba: Yeah. Pretty smooth, so far.

Dave Blanks: Good.

Kaylen Herba: Because it's not crowded.

Dave Blanks: And what's something strange that you brought with you? Something unusual.

Kaylen Herba: I think everything's pretty normal. I brought a lot of mac and cheese, though.

Dave Blanks: Mac and cheese. Like, excess mac and cheese.

Kaylen Herba: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: You're mom?

Mom: I'm the mom.

Dave Blanks: Okay. Did she bring a lot of things?

Mom: Like, for 4 years.

Dave Blanks: Whoa, you brought four years worth of stuff?

Kaylen Herba: I've got to be prepared.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, absolutely. See you later, you all. Thanks a lot.

Mom: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: That's a lot of noodles. A lot of carbs. Oops, sorry.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, well, there's a futon, that's not that unusual. Nothing strange about a futon in a Residence Hall room.

Aiden H.: I'm [Aiden Henderson 00:02:07].

Dave Blanks: Hey Aiden. How's it going?

Aiden H.: It's good.

Dave Blanks: How was move in?

Aiden H.: I haven't gone there yet. I just-

Dave Blanks: Oh, you're in the process, right this moment.

Aiden H.: ... In the process, yeah, yeah.

Dave Blanks: So what's your Residence Hall?

Aiden H.: Doughton.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. Yeah. Doughton. So what is something strange, that you brought with you? Something unusual.

Aiden H.: I brought Christmas ornaments.

Dave Blanks: All right. Are these Christmas ornaments special in some way, to you?

Aiden H.: Oh, I just like Christmas a lot, so I just want to decorate with them.

Dave Blanks: So are you decorating year round, with Christmas ornaments?

Aiden H.: Yeah. Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Okay. That was, that was unusual.

Jacob: I'm Jacob.

Dave Blanks: Hey, Jacob.

John: John.

Dave Blanks: Hey Jacob and John, all right. So you have-

John: From Charlotte.

Dave Blanks: ... From Charlotte.

John: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: And your sister is moving in, but you're here at App already.

Jacob: Yes, sir.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Cool. Does she have some unusual stuff, maybe, that she brought? Potentially?

John: Hedgehog stuffed animals.

Dave Blanks: Right, okay. She's got [crosstalk 00:02:53]-

John: She has this thing with hedgehogs.

Dave Blanks: ... Hedge [crosstalk 00:02:53]-

Jacob: And she has like, a little-

DAD: She loves hedgehogs. Hedgehogs.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, that's pretty weird. How many hedgehogs would you estimate she has? You're dad?

DAD: Probably about five hedgehogs.

Dave Blanks: Five hedgehogs.

DAD: Yeah. She wants a real one when she moves out of the dorms next year, so.

Dave Blanks: Gosh, all right, excellent. Are you in favor of this, hedgehog?

DAD: I, you know, I'm not sure. I'm not sure what to make of having a hedgehog. They seem really cute, but.

Dave Blanks: They are, they are cute. How's move in day going?

DAD: They have it dialed in.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, they know what they're doing.

DAD: They are machines.

Jacob: Yeah, absolutely.

DAD: It's very efficient. So.

Dave Blanks: Well, you all continue to have a great day. Thanks for your answers.

DAD: All right.

Jacob: Thank you.

DAD: Yeah, thanks.

John: Not a problem.

Dave Blanks: You all have a good one. See you John, see you Jacob. Jingleheimer. Right? This is a good spot. Right beside the dumpster. It's a good spot.

Rick Camp: I'm Rick Camp.

Dave Blanks: Okay, Rick. So, who is your student?

Rick Camp: Emma Camp.

Dave Blanks: Emma Camp. And Emma Camp is moving into Hoey?

Rick Camp: Hoey, that's correct.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. So Emma is coming from where? Where's-

Rick Camp: Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dave Blanks: ... All right, Raleigh. So you made the trip up the mountain, and she brought a lot of stuff.

Rick Camp: Too much stuff.

Dave Blanks: Too much stuff. Did Emma bring anything unusual?

Rick Camp: A goofy mirror.

Dave Blanks: That counts. Okay. Can you describe the mirror?

Rick Camp: It's round with these stupid sticks sticking out of.

Dave Blanks: It's round with sticks, all right. That's pretty weird. Did she make it?

Rick Camp: No.

Dave Blanks: Okay. Did you make it?

Rick Camp: No.

Dave Blanks: Okay.

Logan Graun: I'm Logan [Graun 00:04:12].

Dave Blanks: Okay, Logan. So you just moved into Hoey?

Logan Graun: Actually, we're kind of moving in right now. I'm just kind of getting my stuff out of my car, and then-

Dave Blanks: Well then, this is a little break for you.

Logan Graun: ... Oh yeah. Oh, yeah.

Dave Blanks: All right. So, you brought things from home. Where's home?

Logan Graun: Cary, North Carolina.

Dave Blanks: Cary, okay, well welcome to Boone. So is there anything unusual or strange that Logan brought with him?

Logan Graun: I brought a cactus.

Dave Blanks: A cactus?

Logan Graun: I did.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Logan Graun: A succulent, I guess you'd call it, right?

Dave Blanks: Do you think you'll name it?

Logan Graun: It's already been named.

Dave Blanks: Can you tell me the cactus' name?

Logan Graun: It's the best name. It's called Pokey.

Dave Blanks: Pokey is a perfect name for a cactus.

Logan Graun: Yeah, I know, I know.

Dave Blanks: Logan, thank you so much.

Logan Graun: Thank you.

Nancy Smoots: I'm Nancy [Smoots 00:04:45].

Dave Blanks: So, Max just moved into Hoey.

Nancy Smoots: Yes, he did.

Dave Blanks: So can you tell me something unusual that Max brought with him?

Nancy Smoots: A banjo? And a mandolin and a guitar.

Dave Blanks: Not super unusual for like, the Appalachian Mountains.

Nancy Smoots: I know.

Dave Blanks: Is there something strange maybe, that Max brought with him?

Nancy Smoots: Oh, shoot. I'm sure if it's something really sketchy, he's buried it deep and I have no idea about it.

Dave Blanks: So the sketchiest of things, you wouldn't be privy to that information?

Nancy Smoots: I probably would not. You know.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. All right. Understood.

Nancy Smoots: Yeah, I'm the mom.

Dave Blanks: Understood. I got you. I got you.

Rainy B.: I'm [Rainy Baumgartner 00:05:18].

Dave Blanks: Hey, Rainy, what is something unusual, strange, that you brought with you to Hoey?

Rainy B.: I brought my knitting needles.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. Okay. So, is knitting something that you've done for a long time?

Rainy B.: No.

Dave Blanks: All right. Do you know how to knit?

Rainy B.: Barely.

Dave Blanks: Okay. It would be weird if you were like, "No, I'm not into knitting." Then the knitting needles would be particularly strange.

Rainy B.: No, I can knit a little bit. Like, I'm knitting a scarf right now.

Dave Blanks: Cool.

Rainy B.: It's a pretty terrible scarf, but.

Dave Blanks: It's going to get better. Will you knit me something?

Rainy B.: Of course.

Dave Blanks: Really?

Rainy B.: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. Can you knit me a hat?

Rainy B.: I can try.

Dave Blanks: An App hat.

Rainy B.: I can try.

Dave Blanks: Okay. I'm going to hold you to it.

Rainy B.: Okay.

Dave Blanks: Thanks, Rainy.

Rainy B.: No problem.

Dave Blanks: All right. Have a good day.

Rainy B.: You too.

Dave Blanks: See you later.

Katie Smith: I'm Katie Smith.

Dave Blanks: Katie Smith, you're trapped in your car, so you can't escape the microphone.

Katie Smith: I cannot.

Dave Blanks: So you're moving into, where?

Katie Smith: Cannon.

Dave Blanks: Hey, that's right here. So, you're a freshman?

Katie Smith: I am.

Dave Blanks: Okay, cool. Do you know what you're going to study?

Katie Smith: Cellular and molecular biology.

Dave Blanks: Did you come to App just for that?

Katie Smith: Kind of, not really.

Dave Blanks: Sort of?

Katie Smith: Sort of, yeah.

Dave Blanks: What brought you to App?

Katie Smith: Well, I live about 30 minutes down the mountain.

Dave Blanks: Perfect.

Katie Smith: So, close to home. Love the view, love the scenery and love what you guys do up here.

Dave Blanks: For sure, okay cool. So, are you bringing stuff in here?

Katie Smith: I am.

Dave Blanks: Is there something unusual, or strange, that you have brought with you?

Katie Smith: Oh, I did. I brought a stuffed animal with me.

Dave Blanks: What stuffed animal did you bring?

Katie Smith: It's a bunny.

Dave Blanks: What's the Bunny's name?

Katie Smith: Bunny.

Dave Blanks: Is there something special about Bunny?

Katie Smith: My grandmother gave him to me.

Dave Blanks: Aw, okay. Well that's very sweet.

Katie Smith: Yes.

Dave Blanks: All right, well that's not really strange, but it's very sweet-

Katie Smith: No, I guess not.

Dave Blanks: ... so it counts. All right, well have a good move in.

Katie Smith: Thank you so much.

Dave Blanks: See you later, Katie.

Katie Smith: Nice to meet you.

Dave Blanks: Bye. Nice to meet you too.

Kim Reynolds: I'm Kim Reynolds.

Dave Blanks: And you're the Board President, for the Parent Board?

Kim Reynolds: Yes.

Dave Blanks: Hey, Kim Reynolds.

Kim Reynolds: Hey, how are you?

Dave Blanks: I'm good. Is there something unusual that you have seen, that a student has brought? Something strange or unique? Because you're helping with move in day.

Kim Reynolds: Oh yeah.

Dave Blanks: So you've seen some things.

Kim Reynolds: Well, people-

Dave Blanks: Something that stands out.

Kim Reynolds: Yeah. People think that they can bring entire beds and dressers. And they haven't seen the size of their room, and their side.

Dave Blanks: Aren't there beds in there already?

Kim Reynolds: Yeah, their beds are in there already.

Dave Blanks: Okay. All right.

Kim Reynolds: But they think they can bring their princess bed.

Dave Blanks: Right.

Kim Reynolds: And their duvets and their feather bed, and all that.

Dave Blanks: Right.

Kim Reynolds: Yeah, no.

Dave Blanks: They can't bring that.

Kim Reynolds: No, they can't.

Dave Blanks: All right.

Kim Reynolds: There's not enough room for two people to have anything, because they provide a bed, a dresser, all that. But yeah, we've had some funny things. Some contraband and stuff fall out. But, yeah, other than that, it's-

Dave Blanks: Business as usual.

Kim Reynolds: ... Yeah, business as usual.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. Well Kim, thank you so much for your answer.

Kim Reynolds: Thank you.

McKinsey Law: I'm [McKinsey Law 00:07:51].

Kim Reynolds: Okay, cool. McKinsey, and this is your roommate, and what is your name?

Evie Davis: [Evie Davis 00:00:07:55].

Dave Blanks: Evie Davis. McKinsey Law. So you all are roomies here in East, you just moved in?

McKinsey Law: Yes.

Evie Davis: Yep.

Dave Blanks: All right. Where did you guys meet?

Evie Davis: At a haunted house.

Dave Blanks: What?

Evie Davis: We worked there together for three years.

Dave Blanks: Oh wow. Where was this haunted house?

Evie Davis: It's in Youngsville, North Carolina.

Dave Blanks: Okay. All right. So you know that East is supposedly haunted?

McKinsey Law: Oh, we know all about it. We've done our research. We live on the sub floor, too.

Dave Blanks: Okay. Is that the one that's like supposed to be the most haunted?

McKinsey Law: Yes.

Dave Blanks: All right.

McKinsey Law: Yeah. By the bathroom.

Dave Blanks: Okay, cool. All right. All right. So you all are excited about it?

McKinsey Law: Oh yeah.

Evie Davis: Yeah.

McKinsey Law: I mean, I'm pretty excited.

Dave Blanks: Okay, cool. So is there something, I would wager that the answer is probably yes. Is there something unusual that either of you brought with you to your Residence Hall?

McKinsey Law: I collect antiques and I have an old doll from an estate sale, from the 40s, that I kind of just like take with me, and he's kind of gross. And I also have like a Jack in the Box from the 70s, that was my dad's when he was little. And we have like a bunch of skulls that we brought. Just, you know, I have snake skins.

Dave Blanks: This is the jackpot of strange things.

McKinsey Law: Oh, our room is just-

Evie Davis: Yeah.

McKinsey Law: ... Yeah. It's like a treasure trove. It's like it's Halloween all the time.

Evie Davis: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: A 100%. Thanks for your answers. That was perfect.

McKinsey Law: You're welcome.

Dave Blanks: You all have a great move in day.

McKinsey Law: Thank you.

Evie Davis: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: All right. See you later.

McKinsey Law: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: That was crazy, right? Man, that was like the mother load of super strange things. Skulls. Snake skins, haunted dolls. I think we're done. I really, I don't think we need any more.

University Communications' resident goofy goober, Dave Blanks, and UComm intern Alyssa "The Juggernaut" Rodriguez interview students on Sanford Mall to find out why they chose to attend Appalachian State University.

Dave Blanks: Hi, Alyssa!

Alyssa R.: Hi!

Dave Blanks: Hey folks, my name is Dave Blanks, and this is Dave by the Bell, and we are — Yes! Alyssa's excited ... Alyssa our intern. On this edition of Dave by the Bell, we're going to ask people why they came to Appalachian State University. Why did you come to Appalachian State University, Alyssa?

Alyssa R.: OK, so it was my senior year of high school, I was applying to colleges, and I got this email from App State, and it was like, "Hey, we'll waive your application fee if you apply," and I was like, "Wow, that's cool. Like, I'm broke. I'm totally going to apply". So I applied, but I didn't really know anything about App State. So I started researching.

Dave Blanks: Because you're from the coast.

Alyssa R.: Yeah. Then I started researching, and I visited App's campus and I just loved it, even though it was so far.

Dave Blanks: Was your family sad that you were going so far?

Alyssa R.: I think they were sad, but they were also really happy for me too.

Dave Blanks: I'm happy for you. I'm happy you're here.

Alyssa R.: I am too.

Dave Blanks: I'm happy all the students are here. Let's go talk to some of them, because we're ...

Alyssa R.: At the bell.

Dave Blanks: By the bell.

Alyssa R.: The bell.

Dave Blanks: Alright, so Alyssa, we're actually doing something different with this Dave by the Bell because we're taking over the Snapchat with this Dave by the Bell. So you're actually snapping as we're doing this.

Alyssa R.: Yeah, I'm snapping, I'm also taking pictures, too. I'm trying to be on my A-game.

Dave Blanks: A-game! That could be the name of your podcast, because your name starts with an A.

Alyssa R.: We'll think on it. We'll table that.

Reese Kennedy: I'm Reese Kennedy. Well first it was the location. It's kind of hard to look around and not want to hang out up here. Then, you know, all the people that I met that guided me through and brought me on tours and orientation, they're all great people.

Dave Blanks: So you like the people and obviously the location.

Reese Kennedy: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: So you don't regret your decision to come to App?

Reese Kennedy: Not at all.

Dave Blanks: You think anybody that I'm gonna interview is going say, "Yeah, yeah I regret it"?

Reese Kennedy: No, nobody's going to tell you that.

Dave Blanks: Thanks, Reese, I really appreciate it.

Reese Kennedy: You have a good one.

Dave Blanks: You too.

McBarret Good: I'm McBarret Good. I wanted to study Russian history, and they have a Russian language program, too, or we have a Russian language program.

Dave Blanks: Right. Now part of it. So it's we.

McBarret Good: Yeah, so I got to do both. I got to study under ... my thesis adviser is actually a Georgian refugee from the Soviet Union. Awesome connection there. My Russian professor grew up outside of Moscow, so I'm just getting a great education from both sides, language and history.

Dave Blanks: Awesome!

Annika Merkh: I'm Annika Merkh. The mountains and the beautiful area ... I'm from New Jersey, so it's nothing like this, but it's beautiful here. So, that and academics.

Dave Blanks: What are you studying?

Annika Merkh: Marketing.

Dave Blanks: Oh, OK. So did you consider other options and it was pretty much just how beautiful the area is that brought you here?

Annika Merkh: Yeah, I had other options up north, but this just doesn't compare to any of them. It was an easy pick.

Dave Blanks: Well, thanks. I'm glad you're here, Annika.

Annika Merkh: Yes, thank you.

Dave Blanks: All right, and what is your name?

Markie Khan: My name is Markie Khan.

Dave Blanks: So Markie, do you go to App?

Markie Khan: Yes, I do go to App.

Dave Blanks: So why did you choose to come to Appalachian State?

Markie Khan: App was actually a last choice pick for me. I really wanted to go out west, I thought. I wanted to be colder and I wanted to be in the mountains, but I like wanted to get on the West Coast, and then I looked to run for App. We both ran.

Dave Blanks: Runners! So the running thing brought you too, Annika.

Annika Merkh: Yes.

Markie Khan: I quit last year. I really didn't like App when I first came. It wasn't really where I wanted to be, but I love it. I have fallen in love with the mountains, and I really think about people who have gone to the other schools and I'm like, "What do you do on an afternoon? Like go out on Main Street?" There's no mountains or parkway, and the sun and snowboarding.

Dave Blanks: Being outside, obviously, is a big part of your life.

Markie Khan: Yeah, for sure.

Dave Blanks: Makes sense. Well thank y'all both!

Markie Khan: Yeah, absolutely!

Aayanah M.: I'm Ayanna McCreary. I thought about going to Charlotte or Greensboro, but App was the most competitive school that I applied to, so I just came here.

Dave Blanks: OK, cool. What are you studying?

Aayanah M.: Film studies and East Asian studies.

Lizzie Botwick: I am Lizzie Botwick. Honestly, it's three and a half hours away from home, and that's kind of what I wanted. My brother and sister both go to school close to home, so I just kind of wanted to get away. I didn't even come here until I moved in.

Dave Blanks: So you took the plunge.

Lizzie Botwick: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: What are you studying?

Lizzie Botwick: Elementary education.

Dave Blanks: Oh, well App's great for that. Cool, so how do you like it?

Lizzie Botwick: I love it. I feel like it's the perfect school for me.

Dave Blanks: Good. I'm glad you're here.

Lizzie Botwick: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Thanks for your answer.

Lizzie Botwick: Yeah. You're welcome.

Sydney Powell: I am Sydney Powell Jr.

Dave Blanks: Oh, you're Sydney Powell Jr.?

Sydney Powell: Mm-hmm (affirmative). I came to App State because I love the mountains, so I was deciding between the beach and the mountains, but I like the mountains better. I like to hike, and this is a place full of positivity, so I just felt like it was a good place for me to grow as a person.

Dave Blanks: How long have you been here?

Sydney Powell: Three years.

Dave Blanks: Have you grown as a person?

Sydney Powell: I have grown as a person, definitely. I definitely wasn't in touch with who I was back then, and I'm so in touch with myself and other people now. I found myself along the way, but that's definitely what I wanted to do. It took longer than I thought it would. It takes a minute, but once you finally get it, it's the best feeling ever.

Dave Blanks: Awesome, well you seem happy.

Sydney Powell: I am.

Dave Blanks: Well thank you very much for your answer.

Sydney Powell: No problem.

Dave Blanks: Keep going on the journey. More to discover.

Sydney Powell: I will.

Dave Blanks: See you later.

Alyssa R.: Is the wind messing up the microphone?

Dave Blanks: It's not good. It's not going to be great. Actually, this way would probably be better.

Alyssa R.: So we should go this way?

Dave Blanks: Yeah, let's go this way.

Jaylon Cureton: Jaylon Ciertan. I like the outdoors. I don't get enough of that back home and then I also have a bit of legacy 'cause my dad went here.

Dave Blanks: What do you like to do here at App, outdoors?

Jaylon Cureton: I like to hike. Go to the Parkway with friends.

Dave Blanks: What's your like go-to trail on the Parkway?

Jaylon Cureton: I don't know the name of it. I just know that I go right or left when I get to the exit.

Dave Blanks: Which way is the correct way? Go left or go right?

Jaylon Cureton: Go left.

Dave Blanks: Go left. Left, all the cool stuff's left, right?

Jaylon Cureton: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Well thanks J.C. I appreciate it.

Jaylon Cureton: No problem, thank you.

Gabby Romero: My name is Gabby Romero. Money. App gave me a scholarship.

Dave Blanks: So how did you find out about the scholarship?

Gabby Romero: One of the admissions counselors came to my high school and was like, "Oh, you should just apply for everything." So I did.

Dave Blanks: Then you got it.

Gabby Romero: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Cool. So your encouragement to a high school student is would be "Apply for everything"?

Gabby Romero: Yeah. I think a lot of high school students self-select, and they feel like they're not good enough or they're not what admissions people are looking for, when it comes to apply to the Honors College, or applying for scholarships. If you don't apply, you're in the same boat as if you would've applied and they said no. So, just apply.

Dave Blanks: So do it. Thanks, Gabby.

Gabby Romero: No problem.

Kelsey Lam: I'm Kelsey Lam. I wanted a change of scenery. I live in the city, and I always go to the beach, so I thought the mountains would be pretty cool.

Dave Blanks: Right? Was this your first mountain sort of, trip? Had you been to the mountains before you came to App?

Kelsey Lam: A long time ago. So, basically no. So it's my first time.

Dave Blanks: So what do you like about it now that you're here? What year are you?

Kelsey Lam: I'm a junior, and obviously the weather is always nice.

Dave Blanks: How nice is this?

Kelsey Lam: Yeah. I'm enjoying it.

Dave Blanks: So you love the weather?

Kelsey Lam: Yeah.

Riley Cullen: My name is Riley Cullen and I'm a freshman, and this is actually my first semester here at App.

Dave Blanks: Welcome, Riley!

Riley Cullen: The reason why I'm here is actually because my mom told me she wasn't going to pay for me to go out of state, and this is the only in-state school I applied to, so I kind of got stuck here but, I'm actually really glad that's how it worked out because I think I've really found a community here and everyone's so nice. I just really like it so it's all good.

Dave Blanks: Awesome. What are you studying?

Riley Cullen: I'm studying ... so I'm double majoring in theater and political science.

Dave Blanks: Wow. What do you hope to do with your theater–political science degree?

Riley Cullen: I either want to be on Broadway or I want to be the president.

Dave Blanks: Well, either way, I'll see you soon.

Riley Cullen: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: What show would be your dream show to be on?

Riley Cullen: Oh my gosh, "Fun Home."

Dave Blanks: "Fun Home."

Riley Cullen: Have you heard of that?

Dave Blanks: No, I have not heard of the "Fun Home."

Riley Cullen: It's so good.

Dave Blanks: All right, I'll check out "Fun Home."

Riley Cullen: Do it.

Dave Blanks: All right well, Riley, thanks a lot for your answer.

Riley Cullen: Yeah, you're welcome.

Tatiana McGee:

I'm Tatiana Mcgee. I chose App because it was the only school in North Carolina I was interested in. I didn't apply to any other school in North Carolina. Yeah, App was the only one. So if I didn't get in here, I wouldn't have went to college immediately. I would have probably moved out west and gotten residency. I chose App not only because of its physical location, as a geography major, I do like the geography here. The activities that are present here, you can't find anywhere else. I know people who go to NC State or Chapel Hill and they're like, "I miss the mountains, like kayaking, climbing, everything." They don't have access to it.

Dave Blanks: What's the last super cool thing that was outdoor related that you did?

Tatiana McGee: I went climbing outside. I went to Blowing Rock Boulders, so not super extravagant, but it's something you can't do everywhere else.

Dave Blanks: That's awesome.

Tatiana McGee: Fifteen minutes-ish down the road.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Thanks, Tatiana.

Tatiana McGee: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: I'm glad you're here at App.

Tatiana McGee: I know. I love it. That's why I'm still here.

Dave Blanks: Stick around.

Ian Gungee: I'm Ian Gungee.

Dave Blanks: So Ian, what made you choose App?

Ian Gungee: Mountains and trees.

Dave Blanks: As simple as that.

Ian Gungee: That's about it.

Dave Blanks: Nailed it. Well, you got them right?

Ian Gungee: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: How nice is today?

Ian Gungee: It's perfect.

Dave Blanks: Are you doing anything outdoorsy today?

Ian Gungee: I'm about to go peep Sanford, maybe do some slacklining.

Dave Blanks: Yes.

Ian Gungee: Yeah, hang out with people.

Dave Blanks: Well, thanks for your answer, Ian.

Ian Gungee: Yeah, of course. Thanks for asking.

Anna Matthews: I'm Anna Matthews. I chose to come to Appalachian State University because I've always loved the mountains. I grew up visiting the area, but ...

Dave Blanks: Where'd you grow up?

Anna Matthews: I grew up outside of Raleigh in a town called Apex. Not too far of a drive, about three hours, but I just visited and I absolutely fell in love with the campus and the area, and I love how there's always something to do when you're done with your homework and everything.

Dave Blanks: Are you done with your homework today?

Anna Matthews: I'm not.

Dave Blanks: Oh, dang. I was going to ask what fun thing you were going to do, but it'll be homework, because you're responsible and you always do your homework before the fun.

Anna Matthews: Yeah, totally.

Dave Blanks: Well, Anna, good luck with your homework.

Anna Matthews: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Alyssa.

Alyssa R.: Listen to all these reasons to come to App. There's so many reasons.

Dave Blanks: I know. Well, you know, it's a fantastic area.

Alyssa R.: We have some really awesome programs.

Dave Blanks: Yep, awesome programs, cool people.

Alyssa R.: Mountains and trees.

Dave Blanks: Right, we got mountains and trees and rivers and slacklining.

Alyssa R.: We love outdoors. We love Boone. We love App State.

Dave Blanks: Right, so we want you to come to App State too. So if you happen to be a high schooler considering what school to come to, then please consider Appalachian State! Put it in the running because it rules, and it's awesome, and it's wonderful, as you can hear.

Alyssa R.: I rate it an A plus.

Dave Blanks: It's on its A-game. Thanks, Alyssa.

Alyssa R.: You're welcome.

Dave Blanks: Alright, have a good one.

Alyssa R.: You too, Dave.

Dave Blanks: All right, bye. Oh, wait.

Alyssa R.: You always say some ...

Dave Blanks: Wow. I'm Dave Blanks, and this has been Dave By the Bell.

Alyssa R.: Exactly, that's how you do it.

Dave Blanks: Right? OK I'll do it like that. OK, let me, I'll do that.