Post by: Icyana Abner
As time nears for you all to make huge decisions that will affect your future to come, one thing most people forget about is community. When most people think of a community, they think of where students will be living. But what people do not realize is that it means so much more than that. Any freshman can just live in a residences hall, but to actually be a part of a Living Learning Program is a big deal. Not only do you get to meet your fellow neighbors, but you build a bond that is stronger than the normal residence halls. This is because the students learn and grow in common classes that teach a variety of skills. Skills that will help them in the future like team building, public speaking, and thinking outside the box. Students are normally asked to work in groups for long periods of time, and this helps to build relationships that are long-lasting and can last outside of their first year. Also, most of the Wired classes help students become familiar to Lexington due to minor projects that relate to the University and how we fit in Lexington.
When I first began looking at the University of Kentucky, I just wanted to live in a nice dorm close to my classes. I was a shy girl that was content with working alone and having a small group of people that I interacted with. I can now say that the Wired Living Learning Program has changed me for the better. Working with people I did not know for projects helped me to expand my networking system. I branched out and got to know a lot of great people from all over the United States. When most students get to college, it is a strange place and most do not know who they are or where they fit in, your loved ones are not around and the familiarities of high school are nowhere to be found. So then homesickness or getting involved with the wrong crowd becomes a problem. I can truly say that the Wired Living Learning Program was my home away from home. I met one of my best friends in the Wired program and this year, we are roommates. So you never know who you will meet.
Another great thing about the Wired Living Learning Program, is that there are recreational things to get involved with. Everything is not about learning from a book, but also learning life lessons. My favorite Wired event that is hosted every year, is the Not In Our Halls event. This event is basically an anti-discrimination event. This event is used to say not only do we not want to discriminate based on ethnicity but with race, sexual orientation, and religion too. It is a symbolic thing when we join together at this event to all support each other, knowing that the color of our skin or the people we choose to love does not make us any better or worse than the next person.
So take a second look when figuring out what community you want to be a part of. Be a part of a community like Wired that is all about unity.
Sincerely,
Icyana Abner
