Dave interviews students on campus to find out how their first week of fall 2021 classes went.
Transcript
Dave Blanks: Hey folks, what's up? I'm Dave Blanks from University Communications, and today I am walking around the campus of Appalachian State University interviewing students and asking them, "How's your first week going?" Because you're back. You're actually here. You're in person, live. So, yeah. Let's talk to some students, ask them how their first week's going. All right. Come along with me.
Liza: I'm Liza.
Georgia: I'm Georgia.
Dave Blanks: How is the first week going? Georgia, we'll start out with you.
Georgia: Very fun. Just hanging out with new friends is really exciting. Figuring out what to do.
Dave Blanks: You know where all your classes are?
Georgia: Yeah. Surprisingly, yeah.
Dave Blanks: Well done. All right. So Georgia has got it down. Liza, how's your first week going?
Liza: It's pretty good. I like doing classes that I actually am interested in.
Dave Blanks: Name a class that you are taking that you are enjoying so far. You've only probably been to it once, but ...
Liza: I have a good feeling about my biology class. It's the introduction class and I like it.
Dave Blanks: Cool, yeah.
Liza: It's fun.
Catie Broga: I'm Catie Broga.
Dave Blanks: So, are you a freshman?
Catie Broga: Yes.
Dave Blanks: Do you know where you're headed right now?
Catie Broga: Yes.
Dave Blanks: You've got it all figured out it sounds like.
Catie Broga: Yeah.
Dave Blanks: Good job. Name something cool that has happened thus far, Catie.
Catie Broga: Oh gosh. I ate an Insomnia cookie for the first time.
Dave Blanks: How was that?
Catie Broga: It was good. I usually hate cookies, so it was really cool.
Dave Blanks: Who in the world hates cookies? Why do you hate cookies?
Catie Broga: I don't know.
Peyton Teer: I'm Peyton Teer. I'm a senior, but it's my second year here.
Dave Blanks: Oh, OK. I got you.
Peyton Teer: So, it's kind of my first year, because last year was ....
Dave Blanks: A little different, wasn't it? Yeah.
Peyton Teer: Yeah, yeah.
Dave Blanks: How is it being on campus, finally?
Peyton Teer: It's a relief. Yeah, it's definitely a relief. Because last year was a little rough learning online, not seeing many people. Especially being here for the first time. Yeah.
Did you manage to make a friend?Peyton Teer: A couple. Very few. I had a roommate, which was nice.
Dave Blanks: Because you were up here in Boone.
Peyton Teer: Yeah, yeah.
Dave Blanks: Right.
Peyton Teer: But, because I had one class that was in person some of the time. So it was, yeah, it was worth coming up here. I like the in-person setting a lot better and it's definitely set up better for me, at least, to learn and to actually engage in what's going on.
Noel Smith: I'm Noel Smith. I'm a senior. I'm a leader in Campus Christian fellowship. Sunday, when we had our Spiritual Life Fair, we had a whole lot more people that signed up than we anticipated, which was amazing and super cool.
Dave Blanks: Fantastic. Good problem to have.
Jade Atkins: I'm Jade Atkins. I'm a sophomore.
Dave Blanks: How is class?
Jade Atkins: Pretty good.
Dave Blanks: Yeah. Oh, there was some hesitation.
Jade Atkins: It's a little stressful because we were completely online last semester for our first college experience, and now we're actually kind of experiencing college.
Dave Blanks: For the first time.
Jade Atkins: Yeah.
Dave Blanks: Yeah.
Jade Atkins: It is very strange. Especially having to sit next to people and get reacclimated into meeting new people.
Dave Blanks: Right. (singing)
Kendall Byrd: I'm Kendall Byrd.
Dave Blanks: Kendall, you're back in person now, right?
Kendall Byrd: Yes.
Dave Blanks: OK, so how's that going?
Kendall Byrd: Good. I really like being back in person, yeah.
Dave Blanks: Right? OK, so what do you like about it?
Kendall Byrd: Just, online was really hard to do. Not being able to see faces and getting to know people. So I like being back in person.
Dave Blanks: Nice.
Thomas Dixon: Well, I'm Thomas Dixon and I'm a sophomore here at App. So far, for me, it's been pretty good. One of my classes, Japanese one, loving it so far.
Dave Blanks: All right.
Thomas Dixon: Teachers are cool and everything. The rec center.
Dave Blanks: Yes.
Thomas Dixon: Pretty dope, played basketball there last night until one. I'm tired though, but ...
Dave Blanks: That's great.
Elise Robinson: I'm Elise Robinson. Well, it's actually going a lot better now. The first couple of days were a little rough with the tornado warnings and flooding and things like that. Finding out where my classes are. There was one that is actually over at the health center ... Levine.
Dave Blanks: Leon Levine.
Elise Robinson: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dave Blanks: OK, yeah. That's over near the hospital. Watauga Medical.
Elise Robinson: And so I was like, "Oh, I got to take the bus over there."
Dave Blanks: So you're riding the AppalCART?
Elise Robinson: Yeah, yeah.
Dave Blanks: But you figured it out.
Elise Robinson: Yes, I did. We got it.
Dave Blanks: Nice work. Good job. So what is your name?
Cameron: Cameron.
Dave Blanks: And what year are you?
Cameron: I am a sixth year senior.
Dave Blanks: You can't quit App, right?
Cameron: Absolutely not.
Dave Blanks: There are way worse places to spend that much time.
Cameron: Yeah, absolutely. It's gorgeous.
Dave Blanks: Yeah. So Cameron, how is the first week going?
Cameron: Pretty awesome. It is weird to see all of the freshmen.
Dave Blanks: Oh, I know. It is very weird.
Cameron: They look very young, so I have been ...
Dave Blanks: I'm still happy to see them, though. Aren't you happy?
Cameron: Absolutely. No, it's great. Yeah.
Dave Blanks: All right.
Cameron: I mean the fact that they're here means that things are moving in a direction rather than being stuck in this liminal space that we've been.
Dave Blanks: Yes. You're a realist, Cameron, that's what I like about you.
Shepherd Cruz: I'm Shepherd Cruz. I'm a senior. It's definitely a readjustment. I had online classes all of last year.
Dave Blanks: Right.
Shepherd Cruz: So I haven't been on campus since my sophomore year, when they sent everyone home. But it's nice. I like being back in class and it's a lot better being in person for me. But also, you got to be safe. So you got to find the balance, but I'm glad we're back in person for now, so.
Dave Blanks: What's something cool that has happened thus far in the first week?
Shepherd Cruz: All of my classes have been great. A lot of them are more discussion-based than lecture-based which I really like.
Sage Weaver: I'm Sage Weaver.
Dave Blanks: Yeah? You're a freshman?
Sage Weaver: Yeah.
Dave Blanks: OK. So how's your first week going?
Sage Weaver: Amazing. I love everybody, they're so sweet.
Dave Blanks: Aww.
Sage Weaver: The teachers are amazing.
Dave Blanks: Cool. All right, so tell me one cool thing that has happened. That sounds like lots of cool ...
Sage Weaver: One cool thing?
Dave Blanks: Yeah. One cool thing! Isolate a cool thing and explain it to me.
Sage Weaver: Well, I got Cary Curlee as my life and literature and Appalachian studies teacher.
Dave Blanks: Carrie Curly.
Sage Weaver: Yeah.
Dave Blanks: All right, so Carrie Curly is cool.
Sage Weaver: He's just a character.
Dave Blanks: Carrie's a character.
Sage Weaver: Yeah.
Dave Blanks: What's up, man?
Unidentified Speaker 1: What's going on? How are you?
Dave Blanks: Hey, not much. I'm good. So I'm Dave and I have a podcast.
Unidentified Speaker 2: There's Dave.
Students: [inaudible 00:05:20].
Dave Blanks: Hey, hey, what's up? You're up so high.
Caden Pittman: I'm in the tree. I had to get down, I have class at 12:30.
Dave Blanks: What is your name, sir?
Caden Pittman: My name is Caden Pittman. I'm a freshman.
Dave Blanks: All right. Well, welcome to campus. So Caden, how's your first week going thus far?
Caden Pittman: My first week is going really, really great. I've met a lot of people that I really, really, really respect and really enjoy.
Dave Blanks: Right.
Caden Pittman: Yeah. I think the campus is absolutely beautiful.
Dave Blanks: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Caden Pittman: I love my classes. They're really, really exciting. I think they're super interesting, so it's actually really easy to pay attention.
Dave Blanks: Holy mackerel, isn't that a nice change. Caden, thank you so much.
Caden Pittman: Thank you.
Dave Blanks: There's more people in this tree. Can I talk to them?
Caden Pittman: Of course. Hey, Kylie.
Dave Blanks: What is your name, as you're in the tree?
Kylie Venticinque: My name's Kylie.
Dave Blanks: Kylie?
Kylie Venticinque: Yeah, with a K. Kylie Venticinque.
Dave Blanks: What's up, Kylie?
Kylie Venticinque: Hi.
Dave Blanks: So tell me something cool that's happened here at App so far?
Kylie Venticinque: Well, I've met some really amazing people. We have been on hikes and watched the stars and the sunset on Thunder Hill.
Dave Blanks: Nice.
Kylie Venticinque: And it's been a beautiful week.
Kylie Venticinque: Yeah.
Dave Blanks: Cool, very cool.
Kylie Venticinque: Yeah. Climbed many trees.
Dave Blanks: Living their best life. All right. So I really appreciate everyone I've talked to and I appreciate you, listener, for hanging in there. I know you've been waiting with bated breath for the latest audio only version of Dave by the Bell, because we have had video versions, but here it is the audio only version. We made it happen. We'll do it again, too. I'm Dave Blanks, and this has been Dave by the Bell.
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About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
