Kehinde Hopkins '26: Connecting with a New Community

Discover the enriching journey of TFAS alumnus Kehinde Hopkins ’26, a mass communication major from Texas Wesleyan University, who discovered a whole new world during his transformative summer in Washington, D.C.

🏫 University: Texas Wesleyan University
📚 Major: Mass Communication
📍 Hometown: Lancaster, TX
🧭 Program Track: Journalism & Communications
💼 Internship: The Alexandria Times

How has your TFAS Summer impacted you, professionally and/or personally?

😄 Best. Summer. Ever.
Truly, this has been the best summer of my life, both professionally and personally. I’ve undergone a lot of growth these past three years of college–TFAS felt like the opportunity to actualize my fully-fledged self, as a person and journalist. Through my internship at the Alexandria Times, I proved to myself that journalism was a career worth dedicating my life to. I proved to myself that it was not only something I was capable of but also something that truly embodied my values and beliefs. Personally, my TFAS Summer felt like living a lifetime in only 8 weeks. The number of memories made, the depth of relationships forged and the value of knowledge gained astound me looking back on it now.

What was the most interesting thing you did at your internship?

🏡 Immersed in the Community
Interviewing the Mayor of Alexandria was definitely a highlight. Writing a feature on a nearly 50-year-old bar and what it meant to its neighborhood community was also particularly special.

What did you like most about living in Washington, D.C.?

🏛️ Discovering the District
Living in a walkable city with some of the best public transit in the country! The number of people you see from the beginning to the end of your day is incredibly fulfilling. Hard to be unhappy when surrounded by such a community. And every neighborhood in D.C. has its own unique character and spirit, so you’ll always find something new and distinct while exploring this city!

How did this experience change the way you show up in professional spaces?

🚀 Confidence Boost
TFAS gave me the room to make mistakes and be surrounded by hundreds of other young people learning the ropes just like I am. That shared growth and learning environment taught me a lot and instilled loads of confidence in me for the future. If you can look the part in the nation’s capital, you can look the part anywhere.

What advice do you have for future TFAS students?

🤘 Explore & Be a Student
Explore! Every experience, good and bad, has something to teach you. Leave your comfort zone at home and explore the DMV with open arms; you’ll leave renewed.