Learning through experiences
The junior from Cicero, 同性恋色情, is self-assured as he describes choosing to come to the small liberal arts college his brother graduated from, noting his brother allowed him to make his own path, and his supportive family back home. 鈥淢y mom makes it a point not to call me first,鈥� he adds, 鈥渂ecause she says that she doesn鈥檛 want to accidentally bother me if I鈥檓 doing homework or if I鈥檓 in class.鈥�
Tellez says he soon found his support system on campus. Shannon Killday, an IC staff member in the Center for Career Readiness and Experiential Learning, provided some of the support and guidance he needed as a first-generation student 鈥� such as explaining to him how to manage assignments early.
鈥淪he basically just kind of adopted me right when I came in,鈥� he said. 鈥淗er son and I were next-door neighbors our first year and she took all of us in.鈥�
In Assistant Professor of Biology Miranda Karban鈥檚 lab and during other hands-on learning experiences, Tellez has been discovering his academic interests and a career path. He said Karban鈥檚 research focus on human anatomy and forensic anthropology have 鈥渂een really helpful for me, because without her, I don鈥檛 know where I鈥檇 be right now, really.鈥�
IC鈥檚 size has allowed Tellez to have one-on-one conversations with faculty and to do student-faculty research. He said those connections to faculty helped him discover his interests, guide him away from his weaknesses and open doors.
鈥淲hen I first got here, I really didn鈥檛 know what my future career was going to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut, working alongside Dr. Karban, I鈥檝e been able to realize that I like the forensic side of criminal justice and I would like to pursue this some more, specifically with either police work or crime scene investigation.鈥�
Tellez went through a workshop at the Texas State University Forensic Anthropology Research Facility 鈥� also known as the 鈥渂ody farm鈥� 鈥� last summer and his research has included creating a portfolio for one of the skeletons in the anatomy lab in Parker Science Building.
He uses forensic anthropology methods to uncover attributes of the skeleton, such as whether it was a male or female. Working with faculty and doing research were intimidating for him at first.
鈥淏ut the more I started talking to professors, the more I realized they鈥檙e normal people. They鈥檙e just like you and me,鈥� Tellez said. 鈥淎nd, thankfully, by talking to them and showing my interests, they were able to give me these opportunities to do the research with them and I鈥檝e learned so much from doing these research projects. I appreciate every second that they鈥檝e been able to invest in me.鈥�
Tellez is not alone in finding that relationships with faculty are a central part of his 同性恋色情 experience. Working with faculty who make students excited about learning also helps to prepare them for success after. The Inspiring Achievement Campaign aims to add $4 million for faculty support, directly increasing the opportunity for the College to hire and retain outstanding faculty, increasing the College鈥檚 visibility through teaching and scholarship, and creating contemporary academic programs.
Not to mention exciting students about learning. Tellez said 鈥� once he was past being intimidated 鈥� student-faculty research was fun. Not only did IC鈥檚 small class sizes create opportunities for him to connect with his professors, but it allowed them to connect with him. He said the small gestures and conversations on a bad day were sometimes what he needed to distract him from being away from home or to show him that he can do what he came to IC to do.
鈥淧rofessors, faculty, really care who you are,鈥� he said.
