{"id":67094,"date":"2022-10-13T15:29:11","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T22:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=67094"},"modified":"2022-10-14T09:34:34","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T16:34:34","slug":"humans-of-flagstaff-yendira-pineda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/humans-of-flagstaff-yendira-pineda\/","title":{"rendered":"Humans of Flagstaff: Yendira Pineda"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you know that more than 10 percent of Lumberjacks are transfer students? For National Transfer Student Week, Oct. 17-21, get to know Yendira Pineda<\/strong>, a senior who transferred to NAU two years ago from Estrella Mountain Community College<\/span>. Pineda is from Buckeye and is studying business management with a minor in psychology.\u00a0<\/span>Read our questions and her answers below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why did you come to NAU?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I chose to transfer to NAU because I wanted <\/span>a change in my life. I<\/span> wanted to challenge <\/span>myself. <\/span>Coming to NAU<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has given <\/span>me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, explore what Flagstaff has to offer and to meet some amazing people. Not to mention, I was tired of the Phoenix heat and when<\/span> I heard<\/span> you can experience all four seasons in <\/span>Flagstaff<\/span>, <\/span>I just had to <\/span>see <\/span>it <\/span>for <\/span>myself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What has your experience as a transfer student been like?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The process of transferring to NAU itself was quite challenging and overwhelming. Being a first-generation Latina student, I was entering this new chapter of my life by myself. I had no idea where to start. It wasn\u2019t until I met Deeda Webster, student service coordinator from Estrella Mountain Community College, that things started changing. The moment I walked into her office, I knew I was in good hands. She guided me throughout the entire transfer process, provided me all the financial aid resources, kept me updated every step of the way and reassured me that everything was going to be okay. <\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of how it\u2019s been here at NAU, I’ve got one word: amazing. I transferred in Fall 2020, a year which we\u2019re all too familiar with. Despite living in a pandemic, I told myself I was going to make the most of my time here worthwhile. At the time, I lived with my best friend; it felt great knowing I had her support and guidance. That also meant I wasn\u2019t entirely alone and that I could piggyback off her every now and then. I also had a Transfer Peer Mentor, who I\u2019m glad to say has become one of my closest friends here at NAU, who provided her unconditional support. Having her as a mentor has made me feel connected, encouraged, confident and welcomed. Thanks to her, I\u2019m now a Transfer Peer Mentor myself and get to work alongside her. Who would\u2019ve thought? Throughout the past two and a half years, I\u2019ve met some incredible people who listen to me, put a smile on my face and motivate me everyday. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you want to do after graduation?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>That\u2019s a great question! Truthfully, I\u2019m not entirely sure. <\/span>I <\/span>\u00a0work<\/span> in the W.A. Franke College of Business Career Development Office;<\/span>\u00a0they have been a great resource for me to <\/span>start <\/span>conducting research<\/span> on companies,<\/span> filling ou<\/span>t<\/span> their<\/span> job applications<\/span>, <\/span>and c<\/span>onnec<\/span>ting<\/span> with<\/span> them<\/span> throughout the semester. <\/span>One of those said companies is The Walt Disney Company<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> My hope and goal one day <\/span>is<\/span> to work within their HR and Diversity <\/span>department<\/span>. <\/span>If it isn\u2019t obvious, <\/span>I am a huge Disney fanatic! <\/span>Disney has been in my life for as long as I can remember, and I <\/span>must<\/span> thank my grandmother for that. <\/span>So <\/span>yeah, <\/span>go big or <\/span>go home, right? <\/span>Just like Walt Disney said himself, \u201c<\/span>If you can dream it, you can do it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you wish people understood about the transfer student experience?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I wish people underst<\/span>ood<\/span> that t<\/span>he transfer student experience can be a time of confusion and <\/span>feeling lost.<\/span> As a transfer student, you already <\/span>know what is expected of you <\/span>academically <\/span>based on your previous institution. <\/span>And then <\/span>upon <\/span>trying to transfer, <\/span>you are stuck <\/span>going through the whole application process<\/span> again<\/span>, which sometimes <\/span>may <\/span>require extra <\/span>steps<\/span> and delay your <\/span>entrance. <\/span>Not to mention, <\/span>upon arriving<\/span>,<\/span> you\u2019re<\/span> trying to navigate where everything is on campus<\/span> and adjust<\/span> to the new environment. <\/span>You see <\/span>students <\/span>who have <\/span>been here since their first year in college<\/span>, enjoying <\/span>their small group<\/span>s<\/span> of friends<\/span>, having a great time and here you are, not knowing where<\/span> to<\/span> belong<\/span> or who to connect with<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tell me about a significant childhood memory and how it has impacted your life today.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t think <\/span>of <\/span>one specific childhood memory, there are too many to count. That being said, <\/span>any memory I have shared with my grandmother is <\/span>beyond impactful. <\/span>She has been my biggest supporter since day one<\/span>. Throughout her whole life, she <\/span>has <\/span>been this strong<\/span>, resilient, <\/span>and <\/span>independent boss <\/span>woman<\/span> and <\/span>has <\/span>given me advice on how to <\/span>be a<\/span> “mujer<\/span> chingona,”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>badass<\/span> woman<\/span>, <\/span>like her<\/span>self; t<\/span>o live your life to the fullest without<\/span> anyone telling you what to do and bringing you down.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What did you want to be when you grew up?<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh god, <\/span>I <\/span>went through so many phases<\/span>. <\/span>When I was younger, I<\/span> played with these plastic dinosaur toys <\/span>and told myself I wanted to be like the dinosaur man from the film ‘Jurassic Park’, hence my paleontology phase.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The next phase consisted of me wanting to be a doctor. I began watching these medical shows alongside my mother<\/span> and found the medical industry fascinating. <\/span>Next, I <\/span>narrowed <\/span>the medical field to <\/span>being a pediatric<\/span> doctor. <\/span>That idea eventually scrapped <\/span>because <\/span>I <\/span>realized<\/span> I have very little patience <\/span>around kids.<\/span> We then <\/span>shifted fields drastically and thought, \u201c<\/span>How about becoming <\/span>an<\/span> FBI agent?\u201d Simila<\/span>rly<\/span>, my mother and I watched <\/span>these crime<\/span> shows and <\/span>found the whole crime fighting industry fascinating and <\/span>action packed.<\/span> I then went back into the medical field and <\/span>considered becoming an ER nurse. <\/span>In case you haven\u2019t noticed, <\/span>I was quite ind<\/span>ecisive<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What have you been most proud of this week?<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This week I was part of organizing and executing <\/span>the Transfer Jacks S\u2019mores and Stories event. <\/span>I\u2019m proud of the fact that <\/span>we had a great student turnout and that <\/span>students <\/span>were<\/span> able to connect with one another. It brought our motto to life, \u201cCome alone, leave with friends.\u201d <\/span>Shout out to the Star Wars Club for <\/span>providing a show for us.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My favorite way to spend a day off is <\/span>staying indoors and watching <\/span>movies and TV shows. I\u2019m a sucker for the horror<\/span>, suspenseful <\/span>and <\/span>mystery genre. <\/span>So,<\/span> any recommendations I get, I take advantage of my days off to catch up<\/span> and continue looking for more.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are three things on your bucket list?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Three things on my bucket list are:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n