The TEK Student Experience

In my first semester I took UKC290, a TEK course on connecting cultures through intercultural communication. The course really stuck with me, and I thought every student here should be a part of this amazing program. TEK has made me a better person and student, and I am excited for my future in this program.

The TEK program emphasizes connections between the classroom and the community, which has allowed me to grow as a student and a member of my new community here in Lexington. My current TEK course focuses on the food insecurity crisis in Lexington, highlighting the challenges that food insecure people face, while encouraging experiential learning to develop understanding. I cannot over-express how important the TEK program has been in my time at UK, and I would recommend everyone to experience its unique approach to learning.

TEK classes are so unique compared to most classes I've taken since being here at UK. They utilize outside partners in Lexington that not only helps you network for future endeavors, but really gives a purpose to the classroom atmosphere. To feel like you're applying yourself not to just the course, but to the Lexington community and Kentucky as a whole.

I am currently taking TEK 300 with Dr. Murphy and Dr. Hoffman. TEK 300 focuses on investigating food insecurity in Lexington and learning the impact of food insecurity on certain communities and assisting others in addressing food insecurity. We have many assignments that integrate us into assigned neighborhoods, to further investigate and 'become one' with that neighborhood. We are put in the shoes of those who live in food deserts by shopping under strict budgets and viewing the physical boundaries of neighborhoods in Lexington. In addition, we volunteer at various community partners helping them with materials needed to keep their organization running for others to benefit from. Making close knit connections with members in the Lexington community is what drew me to TEK 300. Dr. Murphy and Dr. Hoffman have a passion for our class which further fuels me to make a difference. Having support from every direction makes me feel a part of something great. Something that I find exceptionally impactful for my future career, post college, is the development of communication skills while in professional settings. It is up to us, the students, to reach out and contact the community partners to be a part of their initiative. Being poised and professional is critical while volunteering to represent the University of Kentucky. Through that experience, I am able to navigate future professional settings that come along during my career. I have yet to find a class that is as interactive and immersed in personal connections than TEK 300.