By Mikayla Clapp, Public Affairs Writer/Editor
Writing center work is extremely valuable to the success of students in all disciplines. As a former writing center tutor myself, I can attest to the satisfaction and enjoyment that comes with working in a writing center space. Working part-time in my university’s writing center was one of my favorite parts of my undergraduate studies, and my time as a tutor benefitted me in a multitude of ways.
Tutoring Helped Me Become a Better Writer
One of my favorite aspects of being a writing tutor was that writing center work helped me become a better writer. As the saying goes, “The best way to test your knowledge of a subject is to try and teach it to someone else.” Writing center work required me to put this principle into action and use my personal knowledge of writing conventions to help others improve their writing. Not only was this immensely satisfying, but it also allowed me to test my own knowledge of grammar, sentence structure, literary analysis, and research and organization methods. This helped me discover areas where I could improve my personal writing, analysis, and research skills.
Tutoring Allowed Me to Learn from Others
In addition, being a tutor allowed me to form relationships with my peers and learn from the students I worked with. For example, during my time as a tutor, I worked closely with a nursing student on her doctoral thesis. I met with this student virtually on a weekly basis for several semesters as she wrote and refined her thesis on polypharmacy in older adults. Although I was unfamiliar with her subject matter, I was able to assist her with different elements of writing, like grammar, diction, and organization. I built a close working relationship with this student and learned from her more about how to write and report data and research. From this experience, I learned that forming relationships in my professional life proved to not only make my job more enjoyable but also to make me better at my job.
Tutoring Prepared Me for Many Career Paths
Lastly, my time as a tutor prepared me for a variety of career paths since I worked one-on-one with people. In my role as a tutor, I developed interpersonal and communication skills that will serve me in a variety of roles. I have considered working in fields like education, health care, law, and social services based on my experience working in a writing center. In addition, the interpersonal and communication skills I gained have helped me post-graduation, particularly in relation to communicating with potential employers and volunteer work. I currently volunteer as a literacy and reading tutor for several hours weekly. My experience working in a writing center has been invaluable to my success as a literacy tutor because I am familiar with different learning styles and teaching methods. I am thankful that my time as a writing tutor allowed me to develop transferable skills that will aid me in a variety of career paths.
I Am Grateful for My Time as a Tutor
I will always recall my time as a writing center tutor with much fondness and appreciation. The students I worked with and my fellow tutors truly made the experience worthwhile, and I benefited in many ways from having had this role. My hope is that everyone discovers a job or career that is just as fulfilling for them as being a writing tutor was for me.