Not Only Do We Teach

Believe it or not, our staff goes home at night! Yes, while we student workers may greet you with smiling faces at the front desk and aid you with your papers during the day, in the evening, we turn into people just like you: people with hobbies.

Each staff member at the UWC lives a unique and vibrant life, filled with many things she goes bustling about doing in-between shifts. What things, you might ask? Let me tell you.

Consultant Kaley spends her time on one of the world’s most beloved video games: Minecraft. Besides playing the game in her free time, she also collaborates with a group of talented content creators to transform Minecraft from a cozy hobby into a vast storytelling experience.

Receptionist Belle possesses a similarly creative spirit. She likes to work with her hands and spends her time doing embroidery. She enjoys patiently embroidering patterns of beautiful flowers and often arranges both small and large projects to tackle in the future.

Caroline, one of our longtime consultants, doesn’t shy away from the public eye on her days off. Caroline loves to take part in musical theatre—starring, directing, or both—and anyone may find her stealing the show on a stage in Dallas each year.

Consultant Kayla spends her free time dabbling in photography. While we designate photography as one of Kayla’s responsibilities in the office, she also enjoys snapping shots off the clock, turning daily sights into works of art.

Gracie, another receptionist here at the UWC, composes music in her time away from the office. After the fashion of John Williams and Hans Zimmer, Gracie composes scores that could bolster any modern movie into a masterpiece.

Similarly, Gayle, our newest consultant, plays music on the piano, guitar, and violin in her free time. Her musical styles vary widely from instrument to instrument, but her talent is evident in every song she plays!

Consultant Naomi takes the flipside of her consulting duties when away from the workplace. Rather than looking over others’ writing, Naomi spends her free time writing her own work, namely fiction pieces. Finding her out of the office, one might notice her delving into the fantastical worlds she creates while she types.

Receptionist Rachel often takes a stab at sewing. She mastered the art of crafting plushies and recently dove into the world of dressmaking. Ask her about her current sewing projects to discover her intricate work.

I, the Senior Writing Consultant at the UWC, spend my time off the clock doing what some might call a necessity, but I call a joy: cooking. While I often cook portions for one, I always look forward to making a memorable meal for the ones I love!

Deneen, our Consultant Coordinator, really knows how to tap into her crafty side. In her free time, Deneen likes to make earrings. She often wears them to work, and just as often gets compliments from colleagues and clients alike on their bright colors and fun designs.

Writing Center Director Kā spends her time reading novels of all kinds, as our clients might suspect. However, she also enjoys attending concerts with her husband, Michael, to support her favorite bands. You can often find her jamming to rock music or quietly reading a good book—or sometimes both at once!

Our lives, as UWC staff, often scatter in many directions while we go about our days out of the office, but through it all, the Writing Center holds us together. As we scramble to arrange our college lives, the careers we hold in room 001 align us as friends and colleagues.

Written by Jessica

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Movie Night at the UWC

In the days of modern media, topics of interest such as movies turn into points of debate quickly. Here at the UWC however, no such debate occurs at all! Everyone is on the same page, movies reign supreme on the stage of media. The number of pros surrounding them heavily outweigh the cons. They run just long enough to feel like an investment but not like you’re binging, the production value runs higher compared to other forms of media, and after all, who doesn’t long for enthrallment in lands beyond their wildest dreams? The UWC loves movies; let us highlight of some of our favorites.

            Most Popular: Lord of the Rings

While inquiring our staff about the matter, no one seemed to hesitate before claiming Lord of the Rings as the superior choice of movie. Alongside this fantasy filled land of wonder, many of us in the office enjoy movies that generally fall in the following genre! Here in the Writing Center, we love the idea of escaping into different worlds beyond Writing Center habitation. Fantasy movies harboring magic, dragons, and dramatic plot twists draw in many of our staff and keep us entertained for hours on end. All things considered; it makes perfect sense why so many of us declared the Lord of the Rings as the best movie.

            Most Unique: Shadow (2018)

When sifting through the laundry list of movies provided, one that stood out from the rest came from the favorite of our consultant, Kayla. After receiving an email inquiring about her favorite movie, she responded with a movie simply titled Shadow. Shadow depicts a Chinese military drama where a high-ranking royal advisor to the king creates a warrior, a shadow, to retake a city and go directly against the king’s orders. While the one-line synopsis makes the movie seem pretty straight forward, Chinese have a history of films filled with twists that rival American cinema in appeal. Shades of gray match with hues of red as they lace the promotional artwork and photography. This movie greatly diverges from the general collection of movies within the office; however, its unique style enthralls all who view it.

            My Favorite: The Day After Tomorrow

From lands of magic and fantasy to the territories of Chinese drama, my choice falls in neither of these categories. Instead, out of every single cinematic piece that exists, I find myself watching The Day After Tomorrow over and over again. The movie displays a very simple concept; a global climate disaster changes the temperature of the poles on earth and creates turbulent natural disasters. The story revolves around a group of students participating in a decathlon tournament when numerous disasters leave them trapped in New York City. With evacuation essential for survival, the movie keeps the audience stuck in suspense at every turn. This movie never fails as a good movie for me to watch. I reminisce on my days as a child and relish in the nostalgia this movie brings. It truly harbors a special place in my heart.

Whether natural disasters shake the earth beneath the main protagonists, or the party inches closer to Mordor, the UWC treasures the enjoyment of movies as much as we treasure the enjoyment of reading. Each piece of film takes us on a different adventure and leaves us bewildered or moved by the time the end credits roll.

Need movies for your “to-watch” list? Reference below for a full list of our favorites!

• Toy Story 2
• Lord of the Rings
• Sleepless in Seattle
• The Princess Bride
• The Harry Potter Series
• Crossing Delancy
• Made in Heaven
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice)
• Little Women (2019)
• Shadow (2018)
• Tangled
• The Day After Tomorrow

Written by Kaley

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Writing Center Aromas

While a variety of sights in the Writing Center first grab the attention of those who walk by, the second experience persists as the delightful aromas of the UWC personalities.

These 11 aromas correlate with our 11 staff members, whose aromas act pleasing to visitors but remain uniquely distinctive.

Upon entering the Writing Center environment, UWC staff greet an individual with these charming fragrances.

Kā: Jasmine

Kā, our lovely director, often beams an intense-but-sweet energy like jasmine. Frequently, people also describe jasmine as rich and poetical. These traits fit well with the way Kᾱ treats to others. She mastered the art of polite speech while still maintaining a firm stance of order. Kā remains as an integral part of the operation at the Writing Center along with her jasmine-like personality.

Deneen: Lavender

Deneen embodies the sweet delicate aroma of lavender. As one of the main leaders in our office, she maintains a caring and sugary demeanor while still instructing us on our tasks. Lavender’s reputation commends this aroma for possessing calming properties. In that same likeness, Deneen also radiates positive energy that calms those around her.

Jessica: Peppermint

Not only does Jessica love the mints we put out for clients, but she also portrays the freshness, sharpness, and coolness of peppermint. Jessica always conducts herself in a professional manner, while still demonstrating her enjoyable personality. Her strong leadership role sharpens us to become better UWC staff.

Caroline: Rose

Caroline gives the impression of a delightful walk through a rose meadow. The floral fruity fragrance of this scent presents an ambiance in harmony with Caroline’s rosy, bubbly personality. Caroline always makes her sessions amusing with her stunning disposition.

Kayla: Chocolate

Kayla emanates delightfulness just like chocolate. The pleasant sweetness of candy and the joy that it brings perfectly describes Kayla’s presence. Kayla makes encouraging contributions to the writing center by showing off her cheery personality. She adds many laughs and giggles to this office.

Kaley: Strawberry

Strawberry’s fruity, tart perfume presents a carefree, playful attitude that joins perfectly with Kaley’s character. She provides creativity and entertaining discussions for fellow staff. During her consultations, she gives off the sense of fun that frolicking through a field of fresh strawberries provides.

Gayle: Pine

Gayle emits sweetness, refreshing energy, and a well-beloved nature, much how many perceive pine’s aroma. Pine, a staple fragrance, exudes holiday cheer. Even when a Christmas appears nowhere in sight, Gayle shares the essence of holiday cheer every time she enters the room.

Belle: Apple

Interacting with Belle leads a person’s mind to the tranquility of an apple orchard. The wide-open space with vibrant colors creates a relaxing environment, just as Belle’s demeanor. Apples release a fresh, sweet, green, fruity fragrance which fit with her. Belle, a kind soul in the office, always shows readiness to help.

Gracie: Coffee

The UWC staff knows Gracie as a proud coffee enthusiast, energizing, lighthearted, and balanced. These attributes describe coffee as well. Gracie always paves the way for a cheery day and enlightens the room with her positive spirit.

Naomi: Cinnamon

Naomi creates a cozy atmosphere filled with happy memories such as the fragrance cinnamon cultivates. Cinnamon encompasses these traits by appearing in a variety of favorite dishes. Naomi presents herself in a way that builds familiarity, which makes her a pleasant companion. Naomi’s presence often puts others at ease, and she maintains an easily approachable spirit.

Rachel: Lemon

Lastly, I chose lemon for myself as I love all things lemon and sour. However, in reference to my personality, much like lemons, I consider myself a clean, fresh and cheerful person with an occasional sour touch. Cooking enthusiasts often describe lemons as an uplifting scent, and I try my best to uplift others.

Written by Rachel

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A Session with Jane Austen

We all think about dining with a historical figure at least once, and the options of who we pick seem like a timeless and recurring discussion. Consulting a historical figure, though, seems less common. This might appear as the most predictable and cliche answer for a woman who works at a writing center, but if given a writing session with any historical figure, I pick Jane Austen in a heartbeat. A warning, though: one shouldn’t mistake me for a true Austen fan. The number of days I choose not to pick up one of her novels continues to grow, and I don’t intend to remedy that anytime soon. The 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, starring Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen, remains my ultimate comfort movie, and that fact plays an embarrassingly large part in this decision.

I found out, recently, that Austen, unlike her numerous female protagonists, never married. She died at the age of 41 without a husband or child. It feels odd and slightly uncomfortable to know that someone who contributed so much to the idea of love never found it for herself. It goes to show that perhaps some of us rest destined to give more human love than we will ever receive. I emphasize “human” because I believe that our ability and capacity to love flows from God’s never-ending love, and therefore, we should never think ourselves lacking in it. If anything, the fact that Austen describes it so accurately and intimately without truly engaging in it, proves that. However, we can’t invalidate the immediate and very human longing for romantic connection that many of us, including myself, experience. A session with Austen allows the temporary pleasure of embracing and working through my humanity, instead of ignoring it.

From the extremely limited knowledge I possess on Austen, I feel she makes for an interesting session because of how her stories wrestle with the strength and value of women, apart from men, and this deep desire (and, at her time, need) that we women harbor to find love. I consider myself an incurable hopeless romantic but also someone who stands, arguably, detrimentally independent. I think Austen could sympathize, if not fully relate, with that sentiment. I think back to Jo March’s monologue in 2019’s Little Women, when she expresses, “I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for,” but quietly finishes, as if in shame, with, “but I’m so lonely” (Little Women). Many of Austen’s protagonists explore this idea and I long to dive into Austen’s mind as she wrote these stories and fleshed out these complex and multi-dimensional women. I want to understand how she viewed love and marriage during a time where it existed, primarily, as an economic advantage. I want to celebrate our independence as women with her, and wallow in frustration of how deep our yearning for love runs, despite it. Then, ultimately, we might both raise our white flags and sit in awe of love’s powerful and inescapable nature. As exasperating as love remains, I can’t help but continue to praise it, in all its horror and glory, for persisting throughout human history. In retrospect, a session with Austen might end up with me just listening to her as she expands and builds on her own ideas, making for a terrible consultation. The idea of forty-five minutes participating in and contributing to that process still excites me, though. 

Works Cited

Little Women. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Columbia Pictures, 2019.

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Written by Gayle

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