This is my second semester at St. John's University, having
transferred from a university in Florida, where I majored in
Pre-Medical Studies. At my previous institution, there were not
many resources available to help students with writing projects and
many of the “help” sessions charged students a fee. Being a
student, the last thing I wanted was to spend additional money to
have a place to study and receive feedback.
In my first semester at St. John's, I had two English classes.
One of my classmates was a consultant at the Writing Center and talked to me about the
ins and outs of the job. After further discussions I decided to
apply for a position. Writing had always been one of my favorite
subjects in school, and I usually offered to help family and
friends if they were stuck on topic sentences, research or coming
up with a strong argument. I also thought that by helping other
students, I would also be able to strengthen my own skills with
writing and become familiar with different essays that teachers
required.
Like anyone on a first day on the job, I was nervous and
wondered if I would be able to answer questions that students had.
I was also worried about students wouldn’t find me helpful in
appointments. This was pushed aside because I realized if I was
nervous, any help that I offered wouldn’t be very good. Many of the
students I have encountered have been extremely enthusiastic about
their papers and I always want to see them come back for future
help. Sitting down with a student to help brainstorm is one of my
favorite parts of forming a paper. Having them write their ideas on
paper and see what they create allows me to see what interests them
about their subject.
Working at the Writing Center was one of the best choices I have
made so far at St Johns. The atmosphere is lively and energetic and
the staff is helpful in providing students with useful tools that
they can walk away with.
Major
English
Minor
History
Academic Interests
Reading, Writing, History
Extracurricular Activities
Theta Phi Alpha sorority, Community Service work, Sports, US Army
Reserves
Favorite Authors
Jane Austen, Dr. Seuss, Sophie Kinsella