Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of three articles following a transfer student during his transition to Eastern.

For transfer students, coming to Eastern can be an entirely different experience than that of freshmen.

For Kevin Bayus, a junior kinesiology and sports studies major, being an Eastern panther means having a lot of school spirit and going to as many athletic events as possible.

“I came to Eastern because I switched to sports management and SIUE didn’t offer it,” he said.

Bayus said his reason for coming to Eastern was because Charleston is “more of a college town” than Edwardsville.

“It’s close to home, but yet it’s far enough away,” he said. “You’re not home, but at the same time, you are.”

Bayus said he has loved getting to know Eastern through Prowl and other new student activities.

“It’s been a blast, and I’ve gotten to meet so many new people,” he said.

Bayus said that while many freshmen and transfer students seem to sit in their rooms before class, he was out participating in activities and meeting his fellow classmates.

“I’m really looking forward to getting good grades and going to athletic events,” Bayus said.

He said he has high hopes for this semester and has set both long- and short-term goals for his time at Eastern.

“I really want to make the Dean’s List this semester,” he said. “I found out that some of my classes are harder than they look.”

Bayus said being a transfer is a lot different from being a freshman because transfer students have already experienced college in one way or another.

“You know how college is, but you don’t know anyone at your new college or if you do know people from high school, they’ve changed,” he said. “However, you’re more mature than freshmen.”

Bayus said he has always loved sports and his passion for them led him to choose a major where he could be involved in them all the time.

“I want to coach when I get older since I get injured all the time,” he said. “I figure if I’m a coach, I won’t get hurt as often.”

He said he wanted to find a major that he was passionate about and could be interested in the topics during classes.

”When I was a marketing major, it just wasn’t interesting to me, but when I heard about coaching sports it’s actually interesting to me, and I enjoy it,” Bayus said.

Bayus said he is going to try to get involved with the softball team and travel with them as well as help with practices.

“My long-term goal for EIU is to graduate on time and not retake any classes,” he said. “I just want to get as involved as possible.”

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.