Bonner Brothers- Episode 2 Transcript

Ethan 0:01

All right, and welcome back to the Bonner bros podcast. My name is Ethan Fisher. And I’m here with jasmine and Peyton and we’re back again for another episode. We’re nearing the end of the semester. So you know, things are kind of wrapping up and things are clearing ou people are getting their summer schedules. And you know, there’s been a big update with Emory going back to all fall in person stuff, which is awesome to see after all the COVID pandemic has done. But I just kind of want to ask you guys like how your semester has been difficult classes, things that have been easy things that have been hard things like

 

Jasmine 0:36

yeah, so this semester has been good. I’ve definitely improved a lot since last semester, it being my first semester at college, it was really weird coming in. And COVID really changed everything. So I didn’t really know what to expect, but this semester has been really good. I’ve had better classes this semester. And I’ve really enjoyed them. I’m actually taking about 10 classes right now. And 17 and a half credit hours. So it’s been a big workload, but I’ve been on top of things and things have been getting a lot better. So basically, coming up with finals right now, it’s a little odd, because some of my classes are in person, and some are online. So with my in person classes, I’ve been having exams coming up soon. And some of my classes have already ended. So I have two art classes. And thankfully, for one of my art classes, I don’t actually have an exam that’s on paper, or you know, on the computer, I just have to do a final project. So that’s been really nice for that class. And then for my other art class, the only thing that we have to do for our final is make a presentation of our portfolio, which I found was pretty easy. And I’ve already finished it. And it’s not even due till tomorrow. So I’m on top of things right now. finals haven’t been that bad, I do have biology final coming up. And that’ll be interesting. biology is not my best subject. But we’ve been studying and grinding that class. So that should go good. And I’m excited for going home and enjoying the summer and then coming back to things being normal. So Peyton, how has your semester been finals,

 

Peyton 2:16

I would, I would like to say that this semester went a lot better than last semester, I think, you know, coming into college and not really, you know, expecting what it’s going to be, especially with, you know, COVID being a big, big deal. And a big part of that, you know, plays a role. And you know how you’re gonna take school and how it’s gonna work. And it was a lot different come from high school, you’re in person and you going off to college, and then you’re by yourself. And honestly, you don’t even know what to expect. So in this semester, you know, I’d like to say that it’s been a lot easier for me, one thing that I’ve learned that’s really important is just staying on top of your schoolwork not even staying on top of it, making sure that you’re, you know, honestly, getting some of your work that might be due the week or two out, you’re getting it done, you don’t have to worry about it. I think that plays a role right now, as you’re going into, you know, your final days. at Emory. We’re getting ready to take exams. Well, you know, if you if you get your homework and stuff done before then you can focus on those exams and do better grade on it.

 

Ethan 3:11

No, well, the weird thing about it was is like the first semester was that seven week, you know, the 2 secen week blocks or whatever. And I know a lot of students had like, a lot of trouble with that for for, you know, practically no reason. Because, you know, you’re sitting there for seven weeks and like a bio 300 course for some of the older upperclassmen that I know. And, you know, it’s hard for you to learn, you know, genetic chemistry, yeah, in seven weeks, but then, like you didn’t have time, you barely had time to review for your finals. And now like, I’m glad you guys especially like underclassmen, getting to see how like Emory normally runs is really good. Because a schedule is a big thing here at Emory. Like a bunch of small liberal arts school is like, a thing is like get your schedule, get it set, like get it going.

 

Peyton 3:58

Yeah. But I would like to say that the first semester. Some people had their classes differently. Like for me, you know, the the first the first half of it, I had two classes. And then the next half, I had three classes. So honestly, you know, I had a lot more time on my hands. And some kids, they got overloaded with classes, they they had like five classes in one sitting. And it was hard for them to manage all of them at that one time with such a little time that we had. I mean, we started school pretty late. We also got out early so that that shortens the learning, learning process down.

 

Jasmine 4:31

And a lot of those classes. Like I have art classes that are already to two hours or a little over two hours. And those classes were doubled in time because you have to make up the time for the seven weeks that you’re missing. So those people that were sitting in on three hour, four hour classes at a time and that’s a lot of things to take in. And like you don’t have a lot of time to sit on it. You do have time to you know study your material because you have less classes, but some people were loaded with you know Like you said, four classes, the first seven weeks, and maybe one class the second seven weeks. So they definitely didn’t have time to sit down and study and stuff. And it’s interesting for me in Peyton, and then, you know, when you come into college, what you probably experience First, you’ll make your normal, because when you go into high school, or anything really like, you’re gonna have your first impression of how it is. And that’s going to be your normal, like, that’s going to be normalized to you. So us coming in to the seven week period, it wasn’t that hard for the freshmen, probably, but for the upperclassmen, who have been used to having a long time in their classes being spread out and everything. That was definitely difficult. I’m sure that was difficult for you.

 

Ethan 5:41

I mean, it was it was a little difficult, there was always a transition period, there’s a transition period for everything. But, you know, it’s all about, you know, how you spend your time and all that sort of good stuff. But a big thing for me has been like burnout this semester. Because we didn’t have a spring break, we just had like, an Easter weekend, which was good, you know, Easter is always fun. But, you know, being a Bonner and doing all this sort of stuff on top of you know, not leaving school. It’s, it’s a big, it’s a big, you know, pain in the butt, honestly.

 

Peyton 6:20

And also, I’d like to say that, you know, I was burnt out as well, if you’re, which when we came in, we were expected to play football season in the fall. Well, we started in August, and we didn’t end till March. So I was really born out of that on top of school. So and honestly, I’m just ready for the summer ready to be back home with my family.

 

Ethan 6:42

Yeah. And, you know, I can’t wait for that to even though I’m going to be a work study here, you know, on some, again, somewhere, I’m going to be on campus doing that sort of stuff. But you know, Bonner has been there like to help me get through it. Because I know like, anyone in that admission, not the admissions house, the Collins house, that is the Appalachian Center, where Bonner is you know, ran out of you can go there any point and they’ll help you with anything, which is pretty awesome. Which is why like, I’m glad to be honored, because you have like, you come into college. And, you know, you may not have like a big support system. But then if you come into a school that has a Bonner program, you have 50, 60 members that are all there know what you’re going through, especially coming in as a first semester freshman, you’re kind of like, I don’t I don’t know about this. And you know,

 

Jasmine 7:29

yeah, definitely agree with you. Because in high school, I played sports, and I didn’t come to college, and play sports. So having something that you’re a part of like in high school, it was very important for me to be on a team. And that was one thing that kept me going because every day you go and see those people that even if you’re not just close with them in general, they’re still your team and they’re still your family. And I feel like that’s kind of Bonners for us because a lot of people, a lot of people that go to Emory come here and play sports and are involved in athletics. Like you know, Payton plays football. And that’s really nice, because he has that team, but he also has a support system of Bonners, and he has other people. And the good thing about it is is that these people are having they have the same goals as you as people that are motivated and people that are striving to do good in college and you can be here for each other and support each other. I definitely can reach out to these people that I’m with right now. I can reach out to Ethan any time and reach out to Peyton anytime and ask them know, like, hey, like I need help i’m struggling or Let’s meet and let’s get our Bonner stuff done. And it’s really nice, because they’re going to be on top of things too. And if they’re not, you can always pull each other up, which I feel like our bond is is really just a team. They’re all working together to serve the community as well.

 

Ethan 8:39

Yeah. And here’s one question I want to ask you guys because you guys have only seen bahner and, you know, a COVID standpoint, you know, always having a mask always, you know, having meetings online, things like that. What do you think is gonna look like next semester?

 

Jasmine 8:57

Oh, I think I have really big hopes for Bonner next semester right now. I find it hard because I want I haven’t met everyone in Bonner. I, I know some people but not most, and I you know, I go to the meetings and I see the people that I’m in a specific group with but that’s the only like, really in person interaction I have is when you know me and Peyton and Ethan and all of us. We meet and we get our stuff done. But other than that I haven’t got to be in a big setting with all the people that are involved in Bonners and that’s one thing that I’m really excited for this upcoming semester so I can meet everyone. Me and Bradley hartsell we even have only talked online and I can’t wait to meet everyone and see everyone in person everyone being interactive with each other. I can’t wait to see people’s smiles and everyone helping the community together. I feel like it will really impact us as a team because after everyone going through a hard year of only seeing people online mostly through their classes and through boners it will be so nice and refreshing to come back I can be able to see people’s faces in person, you know, even just like a simple handshake like meeting people shaking their hand like, high five, like waving at each other. Like, that’s such a strong connection that we’ve been missing for a long time. And I just can’t wait for it to be back.

 

Peyton 10:16

I also think that the COVID standpoint, that’s it, you know, our school Emory and it also the, the Bonner shows how strong you know, this school is and how strong Bonner is, for us to be able to continue to work through and be able to show our community service in many ways. I think that’s still pretty awesome. I mean, for us to be able to still go out and serve beyond the garden that’s here on campus. And for us to be successful with that shows a lot. And honestly, I can’t wait to see what we can do when, when it’s in a normal setting like this coming fall.

 

Ethan 10:50

Yeah, and you know, Bonners a big old family, like, even though we’re not together, 24 seven, it’s definitely not like a sports team. Because, you know, I play rugby, so I have to get that team aspect to and having them as your support system. But Bonner is, you know, we’re Bonners for a reason, we got interviewed for a reason, we’re here for a reason. And, you know, bahner looks totally different, like without COVID. And it’s really fun, because, you know, you’ll have your cohort meetings, as we have online now. But normally, they’re in the App Center, and you guys are all together, cracking jokes, having fun getting down to business. You know, sometimes we would play like fun Jeopardy games or stuff like that. And that’s just stuff you can’t do.

 

Jasmine 11:34

That sounds really cool. No, cannot wait for that.

 

Ethan 11:37

You know, our Bonnard record. Bradley hartsell is just awesome. And making like Bonner like the saying like a house is a home making a house a home. That’s what Bradley has done with Bonner so far. And I really like what he’s doing, because he came in being the bonner director my freshman year. And, you know, that was like the third Bonner director we’ve had before I came in. And I think it was within like, two or three years, and you know, Tals, there Tals is Awesome. He’s still plugged into our program as well. But, you know, I’m, I’m waiting to see what great ideas Bradley has, like, in the summer, because I’ve been talking to him. And, you know, everyone’s like, we just need to get this semester done out of the way. I was talking to President wells, I saw him outside of the caf. And I was asking how his his semester went with him being the president. He said, honestly, I just want to get it behind us. So we can start a new in the fall. And I was like, yeah, that that sounds like a great plan.

 

Jasmine 12:31

Yeah. I feel like it’s really important for us all to, like work together right now. And I know, we all want this semester to be over so we can get on to better things. Because I know things are getting better. People are getting vaccinated, and people are being responsible and wearing their masks and social distancing. And because we all understand that we have a responsibility right now, to keep each other safe, so that we can go back to normal because I know everyone can’t wait for it. also say that,

 

Peyton 12:59

also say that, for me, and I’d say for other fellow Bonners, I feel like, you know, this program is a blessing. Because if it honestly wasn’t for Bonner, y’all, I might not be here right now. So it gave me the ability to, you know, be able to come to come here and get to play football and, you know, get to meet new people come from the standpoint of my home, you know, I’m the first generation in my family to go to college as most people are when they come to Bonner. So you know, and that’s really important to me, you know, for them to, you know, my parents being able to, you know, support me through school. And, you know, that just gives me the motivation to continue and try to make something of myself, because, you know, my family’s there for me, and, you know, they’re cheering for me to be successful in life. And I feel like that Bonner stands on that point. So that helps me

 

Ethan 13:42

every night. And I mean, I’m glad you made that point. Because that’s like, something most people don’t realize, especially while they’re in the Bonner program. And I’m glad that you’re realizing that. But, you know, this has been a tough semester for everybody. And, you know, there’s all sort of things that we wish we could have done or should have done, is there anything you guys can think of that you would have improved on, whether that’s, you know, your Bonner service or school classes and how like, you might be able to, you know, in the context of like, maybe helping someone who’s listening to this, coming into college, like their senior in high school, how to, you know, help them improve and not, you know, get stuck in a hole or something like that.

 

Peyton 14:19

I think being able to work on social skills, honestly, I think being able to make new friends and being able to talk to new people, which it was hard for us because we didn’t have the regular, you know, freshmen comes in and they get to meet all the freshmen coming in, you know, we basically just met the people that were in our orientation class, and people that were in there, that’s still my friends. You know, I didn’t get to meet everybody. So, you know, I think that’s really important.

 

Jasmine 14:44

Something for me that I’d say that I could give advice or that I think that people could definitely carry on with them into their future in college, or maybe if they’re younger or older, or just anything in general is something that I’ve learned is to just know that you can do it. Because this first semester of this year, coming like social, being social is a big part of who I am, like Peyton said, social skills are very important, especially when you come to college, you need to find your people, and you need to find who has the same beliefs, as you, you know, thinks the same way as you because those people are the people that are gonna stick around and help you. But going along with that, being social and everything you need to be around people that are gonna have the same goals as you, yeah, and you need to know that like you can do it, you need to know that even if no, even if you haven’t found your people, even if you haven’t found a way to interact with people, because you’re, you know, because of COVID, you need to have that within yourself and not rely on others to tell you like, Hey, you can do it. Like, if you don’t have that support system yet, you’re going to be able to tell yourself, like, hey, like you got this and you don’t need anyone else’s motivation other than your own, to know that you can be successful. Even before like you find your friend group before you found your support, because it is very hard coming in, you’re going to meet a lot of people before you meet the people that you know, you belong with.

 

Peyton 14:49

I think another important skill would have to be, you know, pertaining to schoolwork, would honestly have to be just being motivated. You know, you know, you’re in college for a reason you’re here to you know, start your career and start your job beyond here. So, every day, you know, think of Hey, you know, I’m here for a reason, you know, I’m on to bigger and better things. So, you know, he tries to he tries to give you that, you know, that step, you know that that one step ahead, that edge, you know, to become what you want to be.

 

Ethan 16:44

Yeah, and a big thing that I like to take away, especially from a small liberal arts school, like Emory is, you know, you know, bigger schools have Dean’s of students success and all that sort of stuff. But you’re just a number to them. Travis Profitt me and him talk on the on the weekly and, you know, just sending an email is a simple way for you to get out of a little spot that you’re in. And, you know, it’s really awesome to see a school like this have that, you know, support system within them. But yeah, I think that’s a great, I’m looking forward to what you know, Bonner has in store for all three of us. Hopefully, we’ll be in the same project again next semester. If that’s how it works. And yeah, we thank you guys for listening to our podcast. We greatly appreciate it. If you’d like to learn more about Emory and Henry, you can always go to our website ehc.edu and if you have any questions about Bonner or anything like that, you can email Bradley hartsel at bhhartsell@hc.edu.

 

Transcribed by https://otter.ai