Peer Writing Tutor Makes Good

A St. John's University student who will be moving on to study archaeology at Kings College Cambridge has kind words about his experience working in a writing center:

Calling his senior-year role as tutor for the Writing Center “my other truly formative experience at St. John’s,” Van Hoy recalls the impact it had on his academic growth.

"The time I spent in the Writing Center was invaluable. It became my home away from home,” he recalls. “It allowed me to improve my own writing skills and realize that knowledge is useless without the ability to express it in a coherent and compelling manner.” The Cambridge scholar then reflects on his one-on-one work with the many St. John’s students whose primary language was not English. “The University prides itself on an amazingly diverse enrollment, so it felt good to help these [ethnic] students in a meaningful way,” he says. (St. John's University -- Academics & Schools -- St. John’s Graduate Takes on Archaeological Challenges at Cambridge)

I've been tracking where peer tutors who worked in the SLCC Student Writing Center over the years and am pleased to report that all have gone on to very successful and diverse carreers. Contrary to what one might expect, peer writing tutors do not all go on to be writers or teachers (although some do). Several people who have worked here have gone to to business carreers, and several others into social service carreers. There are also, of course, those folks who do go into writing and teaching. We have our fair share of successful journalists and teachers in the pack.

Now, of course, it might seem that there is no connection between working in a writing center and later success, but that is not what the former SWC writing advisors think. The folks I have spoken to report that the SWC experience was highly influential in their desire to continue on with their education and motivated them to consider the various possibilities out there.