TNJN Spotlight: The face behind the Humans of UTK page
What started as a JEM 230 blog for sophomore and Journalism and Electronic Media major Caroline Knight shortly turned into much more when the page got the attention of University of Tennessee students.
What started as a JEM 230 blog for sophomore and Journalism and Electronic Media major Caroline Knight shortly turned into much more when the page got the attention of University of Tennessee students.
Knight is the face behind the Humans of UTK Facebook page that showcases students around the University of Tennessee’s campus and has quickly gathered over 2,000 likes only a few weeks after its creation.
It is mirrored after the popular Humans of New York page created by Brandon Stanton.
With a passion for photography and the drive to do something different Knight knew that the page would be a unique project. She wanted to showcase the individuals that make of the university.
“You pass all these people, and you don’t recognize their faces, and you see a different person every day,” said Knight.
Knight’s love of the Humans of New York inspired her to showcase the people of UT.
”I just like hearing other people’s perspectives,” said Knight. “There are so many people in New York. Every single one of us has lived a different life up to this point. I just like learning about other people’s lives.”
Her love for other people’s stories made the page something fun for Knight to create.
“If you see a person wearing interesting clothes or if they look happy or sad it always made me want to talk to them,” said Knight. “I mean I’m a naturally curious person. “
Knight says she just goes with instinct when choosing people to photograph.
“I just kind of like take a shot in the dark with the people I choose,” said Knight. “And I’ll get people who will really open up to me and unleash their personal experiences.”
One popular picture that the Humans of UTK Facebook page featured was a student in the Hodges Library dressed in a striped suit.
“I want people to have a better understanding of people who don’t look like them,” said Knight. “The other day I took a photo of a guy that wore a striped suit from Uganda. I posted it because I wanted people to know that he was wearing it to feel more comfortable taking a test, not because he wanted to be a hipster or that he was trying to be different.”
Overall, Knight is glad that she started the page and hopes to continue inspiring others with unique stories.
“I’d like people to know that they are never really alone,” Knight said. “I want people to realize that there isn’t one person they wouldn’t love if they only knew their story.
As Knight continues to cultivate the page and showcase stories, one day she might even feature your story.
“I’m going to go find my human for today.”
You can check out Caroline Knight’s website here and the Humans of UTK page here.
Edited by Maggie Jones
Food aficionado, Jessica Carr, believes her passion for food first began while learning to cook Asian and southern cuisine with her mom. Now a senior journalism major at the University of Tennessee, Carr combines her love for writing and food by cultivating restaurant reviews through her blog. As newly appointed Editor-in-chief of the Tennessee Journalist, the official news website for UT's School of Journalism, Carr plans to build experience and one day be the editor of a food magazine. When she isn’t writing, she’s most likely in a theater enjoying the latest indie film.
