A Farewell Message
When we first started discussing the idea of having a blog for the University Writing Center, we thought it would be great to have our own consultants talk about their ideas and own takes regarding subjects of writing or teaching. From the beginning the consultants who joined the publishing committee worked on ideas and writing pieces that contributed to our blog. As we come to the beginning of our blog, we also come to a farewell to our fellow publishing committee members who will be moving on to a new chapter with graduation or teaching instruction.
Here is their last message to our blog, “The Writing Mine”, we appreciate the time and dedication that these members have contributed to our blog, and we wish them the best in their next adventure!
--The University Writing Center
Elizabeth Cervantes Guzman
Spring 2021—Spring 2023
Elizabeth has been part of our Publishing Committee team from the beginning. She helped with a lot of the early on decisions regarding our plan for the Blog. Elizabeth is also credited for naming our blog, “The Writing Mine.” She has done a lot for our blog, and we appreciate all her dedication and time. Elizabeth will be graduating in May with a degree in Multimedia Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing and will be attending Graduate school in the Fall.
When I started working at the writing center and shared with people what I did, their reaction was always something along the lines of, “Oh God! No, thank you.” It always made me laugh because I never saw the work I did there as boring or intolerable. I have always enjoyed it.
It’s fun going into sessions not knowing what type of paper I’m helping students with or how students will react to my feedback. And, of course, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make writing a little less hard for students.
But working at the UWC is so much more than that. It is learning from students about things I had never heard about. It is about constantly trying to improve the way I communicated information to better help students. It is about developing my skills as a writer while I help others with theirs. It is about venturing into blog writing and hiring procedures to grow professionally. It is about developing incredible friendships with my coworkers. To put it simply, it's about growing both personally and professionally.
Although my journey at the writing center has come to an end, I will take these lessons and friendships with me everywhere I go. That’s just how impactful the writing center is.
So, if you are interested in working at the writing center, I couldn’t recommend it enough. It was a great experience for me, and I am sure it will be a great experience for you too. And if you are a student just seeing what the writing center is about, please visit it. Everyone there is more than willing to help you and will try their best to do so.
Kyle Jacquez
Fall 2021—Spring 2023
Kyle has also been part of our Publishing Committee team from the beginning, he offered ideas and suggestions to help organize our blog, and we appreciate all his dedication and time. He has contributed various writing pieces, from Queen’s Speeches to writing strategies that students can use for persuasive arguments. He will be graduating in Fall 2023 with a degree in History and Political Science with a minor in Secondary Education. Next semester Kyle will also begin his student teaching and will be applying to graduate schools.
I came across this job posting at the Get Involved Fair on Leech Grove coming back from the pandemic. The UWC seemed to fit my interest, given my hopes to be a speechwriter, so I stopped by even though I already had a job. It seemed like a wild shot to work at the UWC, but it was one of the best I’ve ever taken. Adjusting to the writing consultant challenged my comfort zone, but I quickly grew into it. From my first day until now, I feel that I have become a better listener and writer after going through many sessions with students. The Publishing Committee also helped immensely with this, giving me a platform to write for fun and relate writing ideas to those who may find it in other things like pop culture, rather than schoolwork.
Something I take with me from the UWC is the realization that words matter. Not just written words, but what we say. The assignments I saw from students came and went, but the interaction I left with them lasted longer. Sometimes it’s not all about the assignment, but the writer. The feedback I gave students and how I addressed them mattered. The conversation we had mattered. My advice is to be compassionate with the session, whether as a consultant or the student. When we open the space to talk and appreciate one another, whether to talk about the day or vent about a class, the writing becomes easier. We work better as mindful humans, students, and consultants so remember that what you say matters, not just what is marked on the paper.
I’d like to think I made my words count through my UWC journey, especially to my coworkers. They didn’t just work with me; they ultimately made me feel like I mattered. I’m grateful this job became a home for two years.
If I never said it enough, I hope at least these words matter to you all – thank you for everything.
Alana Heck
Fall 2022—Spring 2023
Alana has contributed with most of our opinion pieces about struggles of writing and the realities of working at the UWC. She has also helped the publishing committee with our social media posts by creating posts on some of our national and world holidays. Next semester as part of their Master’s degree for English Literature, they will be teaching RWS as part of the First Year Composition program.
I applied for a TA position and had no idea part of the program included working at the UWC. However, working at the UWC taught me about how to effectively communicate information about writing. Learning these skills alone made me wish I had applied to the UWC as an undergrad and is enough reason for anyone to apply.
The communication skills I’ve learned while working will be valuable for the rest of my life. I’m better at responding to what people need and can guide them toward their goals. I’ve learned so much about the writing process at the UWC, which made my first year at grad school a lot easier. The UWC is good at teaching things subtly, so I know I’m a better student than I was last year; I can’t name what I’ve learned but the knowledge always pops up when I need it.
One piece of advice I would give is to learn by doing and don’t stress about the job. You’ll pick up how to do everything as you work and learn from each session. Just trust the process and know you have a ton of support.
I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Publishing Committee. It let me practice writing outside of academic or professional contexts, and I could explore different writing styles and topics. It was a super valuable experience that I’m glad and grateful to have been part of.
Stephanie Herrera
Fall 2022—Spring 2023
Stephie has brought a variety of topics regarding writing in multidisciplinary fields like Computer Science, she has also worked on pieces regarding writing and hospitality. She has brought to our blog a unique take on how students and teachers view writing. Soon Stephie will be teaching next semester as part of her Master's degree for English Literature, and she will be teaching RWS as part of the First Year Composition program.
I’ve had a remarkable time working at the Writing Center! I loved being part of a continuously growing, hard-working team of writing consultants. Seeing everyone’s commitment to student service and dedication to their practice put out a special energy that I always felt coming into work. Each day was different and consisted of a variety of writing pieces, but the person behind the writing made the experience the most meaningful.
I’m grateful for my time with the Publishing Committee as well. I really enjoyed working alongside and sharing ideas for writing with my incredibly smart and creative friends/colleagues. The enthusiasm and interests that each person held for their writing projects was inspiring and I always looked forward to their upcoming writing pieces. Though my time on the committee was brief, I’m happy I was able to explore a new genre of writing and share my thoughts and writing in a new way.
I had a regular student often tell me I was the writing expert. I appreciate the title and recognition! But I do not claim this title for myself or over anyone else. In our writing, we want to say that we’re always growing and evolving our practice and learning through the process to best find ourselves. One of the most rewarding parts of my role as a writing consultant has been collaborating with students and witnessing their excitement as they develop new ideas. As a consultant, I’ve read a distinct voice in each writing piece. I hope students continue to explore and find their voices, and to value themselves as the thinkers and writers of their present moment.