UWC Myths and Misconceptions

Though my time here at the UWC cowers in comparison to my coworkers, the myths surrounding our office no longer remain foreign to me.

With spending a good chunk of my time, each day, sanctioned in this windowless (though beautifully lit) and seemingly distant basement below the library, it should come as no surprise the misconceptions and eerie stories that arise.

As an introvert, I understand not wanting to venture all the way to the LC just to ask a quick question or schedule an appointment. I even understand feeling so overburdened with social anxiety to opt out of calling us! However, as any good relationship expert will tell you, communication makes or breaks a relationship, and you beautiful students and the UWC share just that. Subsequently, with communication comes clarification. Therefore, the first half of this post discusses some of our most frequent misconceptions: 

We edit/red-mark your papers: We cherish your time and applaud you on being so diligent in your writing process, and want to ensure your writing stays entirely your own! All our students harbor such beautiful and creative minds, and we exist to help you better utilize them, not replace them. This looks like a collaborative process, filled with back-and-forth dialogue and answering any questions or concerns you might hold. When you leave your session at the UWC, we hope you leave more confident in your own writing skills, and how could that possibly happen if we provide you with only scratches of red ink, on your paper? 

We help with research: While we do offer help for brainstorming a paper (yes, you can schedule an appointment just for brainstorming!), help with research remains a job better suited for our lovely friends upstairs in the library. However, if you feel so obliged to come see us after you acquire all that new knowledge, we can process those things with you, and see how you can effectively incorporate them in your paper. 

We guarantee A’s: Just like as all of us come in different sizes, shapes, cultural backgrounds, and early life experiences, what you write, what we work on, and ultimately how a professor chooses to grade that work proves a no “one-shoe-fits-all” ordeal. As much joy and significance we find in helping you improve as writers, we never guarantee an A. 

With those shared and communicated, let’s move onto more “traditional” myths–the spooky ones: 

Our door remains open, meaning all the noise outside find no escape from our ears. We sometimes overhear the purchases and dropping of various food items from the vending machines, the interaction of students in group projects, and the ever-so-lovely cranking of the scantron grader.  Unfortunately, included in this list of familiar sounds rests the opening and closing of the elevator, just right outside. Now, this normally isn’t too odd a scene. One only expects the frequent use of the elevator with the number of stairs that cover this hill we all love and adore. However, you might understand our gawking when those elevator doors swing open and not a single soul walks out or in. This rarity reveals the first spooky myth of our beloved UWC: the ghost in the elevator. 

We consultants owe our receptionists so much credit for bearing some of our toughest client interactions with grace and professionalism. I only imagine how thick their skin has grown. While handling unideal situations in person stays a much more difficult experience (but perhaps I feel that way because I grew up in this era of texts over phone calls), you might underestimate the strange amount of blank phone calls we receive. Blank calls meaning the phone rings, we pick up, and give our charming greetings only meet with the buzz of a dead line or even worse: unresponsive breathing. On a lighter note, we also pick up on scam and sales calls. Which we prefer, though, depends on the day.

Most interesting of these myths, to me, remains the Dirt Room. If you possess any of the same thought processes as me, your mind initially refuses to imagine we mean a room filled with dirt. You might flatter ideas of metaphorical usage, or some sort of inside joke–something creative. But alas, when we speak of the Dirt Room, our rather predictable first impression proves correct: it exists as a room filled with dirt. The purpose of this Dirt Room, however, depends on your imagination. Here at the UWC, we discuss possibilities ranging from odd storage to crime cover ups and a potential zombie attack refuge.

And with that, I close this week’s blog post. Hopefully I cleared some things up and provided some extra incentive to come hang out with us for a bit. As eternally entertaining our “ghosts” stay, I must admit we do prefer real live company and conversations. Imagine, though, how awkward a session with one of our ghosts might prove to show!

Written by Gayle

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Working at the UWC

Getting hired at the University Writing Center happened when I least expected it to but needed it the most. Here, I am surrounded by my colleagues who always support and care for one another. This kind of work environment, rarer than it should be, remains the best part of working here. Throughout the office, people encourage one another in many ways.

We call my favorite form of encouragement Kudos cards. A system of writing notes to one another; the cards attest to something simple or something specific that the person succeeded in. Each note I receive makes me smile, and I keep every one of them as a reminder for a difficult day that people recognize what I do and appreciate it. I also tend to hold onto all cards given to me, a bit like a file for memories given to me by others.

What goes on in the office, pertaining to the job, helps solidify why my colleagues make this place fantastic. Upon entering the office, a slew of hellos and questions on how you are greet you; things like that make me feel like I truly belong with those I work with. It’s a warm feeling to have. Knowing that people who care and want to help you surround me, and that encourages me to want to help others, as well. Somebody always checks on you after a difficult situation, helping when the stress appears overwhelming, and a lot is going on in the office at once.

I am unable to put into words how thankful I am to work in such a comforting environment where I know I am accepted.

Working at the Writing Center holds many wonderful things, though this one will always hold my heart as one of the best things to happen to me.

Written by Belle

Image credit: Kayla

Diary Entries of a New Hire

Dear Diary,

Well, I now set off to endure college. Classes begin, and I try my best to make friends and adjust to the comforts of this university. However, knowing me, I will stick to my own devices and feel satisfied with only a small group of friends; I simply enjoy life on my own, for the most part. Nonetheless, I will set out to make a few. Another thing: I need a job. I want to make money to save for future expenses as well as for fun things in the present. I completed the student worker application before moving here and am so glad I did. I find my pace of life on the edge of a whirlwind now. I plan on applying to the library, a seemingly enjoyable place to work, and certainly a type of work up my alley. DBU hosts a job fair that I must attend for my foundations class; I suppose I will scour for opportunities there.

Dear Diary,

I applied to the Writing Center! Finding out about the Writing Center (or UWC) through the job fair piqued my interest. Plus, it seems like a brilliant place to work. I picked up an application from their office today, and it looks like a cross between a Hobby Lobby and an eccentric college professor’s office (once again, brilliant). One of my new acquaintances named Gracie also applied to the UWC on my mentioning of it. Perhaps we will work together?

Dear Diary,

I finished my interview! It lasted for about forty-five minutes with an array of thought-provoking questions. When given the opportunity to show off my bullet journal, I did so, perhaps a bit too eagerly. This place seems the habitat of an intriguing crowd; I like it. Now, we wait. Will they hire me? Or will I find myself lost to the trenches of unemployment? Just kidding, but I find myself nervous regardless.

Dear Diary,

I start my first day of work tomorrow! Oh yes, sorry, I forgot to fill you in. They hired me! My parents visited me this weekend for my nineteenth birthday, and now I start this new age working at a writing center. Now, I enter training for the receptionist position, but maybe some day I will move to consultant training, as it sounds intriguing. Oh, and get this: they also hired Gracie! She starts about the same time I do. Though I am filled with excitement, I am also quite nervous.

I love writing and hope to use my time in college wisely to grow my skills. I look forward to finding my footing in this new environment, and I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone.

Also, those friends I spoke about a while ago – I think I found a way to procure a few inquisitive acquaintances. Let’s see how this goes.

Written by Kayla

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UWC from A-Z: Our Version of the Children’s Classic

We all remember when we learned our ABC’s: A represents Apple, B denotes for Bicycle, and so on until we reach Z. At the Writing Center, we take the alphabet very seriously because without it, we can’t read or write.

For this blog, we compiled a silly, personal version of the classic children’s’ exercise. This adaptation of the ABC’s corresponds to our quirky space we call an office! We hope you like it and that, maybe, it will make you laugh a little. Most of all, we hope you find it intriguing enough to schedule a visit with us!

Apples almost always represent A in the classic ABCs, but we pick APA and amazing for our A. Come to us instead of fighting APA guidelines alone. Active voice also represents A well, and we help people learn how to employ that to make stronger papers.

Books often show up for B in alphabet manuscripts, and most of our staff chose it, too, but we see some variation with bookworm and book-smart. One points out that books cover horizonal surfaces in our space. But another creative voice also tells us that beautiful blogs by our staffers epitomize the letter B. Yet another mentions our very Belle, a booklover just like the Disney princess.

C earned multiple connotations, too. As part of a Christ-centered institution, we cannot forget that His name starts with C. So does consultant, the title of those who help with papers. Caroline also opens with C; our Caroline oversees the entire blog process. Finally, we choose Christmas for our C because we keep pieces of every year alive year round in the UWC!

D symbolizes Director, Deneen (one of the Director’s two right hands), and the diverse decorations of which we overflow into the break room. Come see for yourself!

Expertise works for E, and consultants work hard to gain the expertise to help with papers and formatting. Our receptionists, too, maintain proficiency at the front desk, checking clients in with friendly care. Encourage also fits our E; students often exit our doors feeling like they can write, and they can!

F found a few good words for its letter: faith, format, and flowers. Faith sustains us all always, and we, as an office, faithfully pray for one another. Formats bring frustrated clients to our doors where we relieve that stress with sage advice. Flowers usually brighten our space, and we try to cultivate blooms, too, though we often fail.

Grammar simply must take top spot for G, but we give our G to God, too, because He provides for us, and we look to Him in adoration with grateful hearts. Oh, we cannot forget Gayle, who as our newest consultant, brightens this space. Nor can we fail to mention Gracie, our longest running receptionist, who welcomes clients with a glowing smile.

Homey, hospitality, and handouts all cozy up to the H spot on our list. Our setting feels homey, and our staff offers hospitality to all who enter it. Of course, many students stop by for our helpful handouts, which cover formatting and a plethora of subjects from grammar to idioms to specific assignments and much, much more. Find them on our website (please make “website” a hotlink).

Imagination runs rampant in the Center, so imagine how we can help with your pesky paper.

Jovial joking happens all the time in our office, and we often create inside jokes to bind us closer together. But our Senior Consultant Jessica also stands in for the J, and she absolutely provides the Director a second right hand.

Ks fill the office: Director Kā and consultants Kayla and Kaley bring the full force of K to bear kinetic energy in the UWC. Kindness, too, overflows here, a practice we fully believe matters.

Let’s look at L and see what the staff thinks. Lord starts with L, and Jesus, our Lord, loves us. We know love because He first loved us. Library also begins with L, and our Little Library offers free books for the taking. Take one and leave another, or simply take one. Your choice. Found outside our doors, it only closes when Security locks the building.

MLA takes first place for M, as it should, since many students request assistance with it. But let’s not forget that mint also begins with M, and we always provide mints for students and staff alike.

Nerd, or some form thereof, overwhelmingly won top honors for N. Others noted that noun also begins with N, and we use lots of nouns in writing. Naomi counts, too, as a proper noun; we certainly love her. You will, too, so come for a visit.

O garnered only two words: The Office, our current theme, and owls, our mascot. How many owls reside in the UWC? We don’t know because we never counted them, but if you visit, you can count them for us.

P managed to inspire different thoughts in every mind save two, who both noted the plants we attempt to keep. In fact, the Center holds many plants, and we actually designate a keeper to maintain them

Query and quirky both came to minds as we assembled this list. While the majority of our staff picked quirky to describe us, one pointed out that we answer writing queries for students, staff, and faculty.

Rhetoric describes much of our work, and you can certainly rely on us to help you with your writing concerns. Rachel, too, relies on the R when she signs her name, and we’re glad she joined our ranks because she brings joy along everywhere she goes.

S, like many other letters, gained three representations: sessions, students, and servant hearts. Sessions need students, and students need our servant hearts to welcome them, allay their fears, and provide guidance for their writing concerns.

Turabian pops in for T, reminding us that biblical scholars and some historians prefer this format over all others. However, thesaurus also starts with T, and we highly recommend using one to add variety to writing.

U takes the front position for most words that fit its letter. UWC and University both lead the way because they represent us and our space in the universe. Within the UWC, clients find understanding since we, too, struggle to find the perfect words and recognize the pain they feel. Underrated, too, describes us, as many students never even learn about our services.

V finds identity in value. Discover value added to your education when you learn to communicate more effectively with our services. But also note that we very much value every student who comes our way and uses our skills to his or her benefit.

W shows the welcoming, wonderous, wonderful, windowless, Writing Center, where we often employ Webster’s words right at hand in his dictionary. We also prefer to see papers in Word documents for ease of use, and we publish our own words on WordPress.

X brings us closer to the end of this silliness, and we land on the Xerox machine where we make many copies of handouts to share with clients.

Y fails to stymie us, for we place yellow legal pads on consultation tables. Both clients and consultants utilize them for note taking lest someone need a reminder of content later. Don’t forget, too, that we remain open year-round for any and every semester and class.

Z closes the alphabet and likewise closes our list. Here we offer two opposite ideas: zany and zone. Academically speaking, Lev Vygotsky developed the “Zone of Proximal Development,” meaning, that in our zone, we meet clients where they land in the learning process (Deneen’s class). Lastly, we contend that we and our room appear eclectically zany to many who seek us out.

We hope you enjoyed this alphabet journey and found something that inspires you to come visit us: check out our artwork, get help with a paper, or simply wander in to say hello. Hidden in the deep, not-so-dark recesses of the Collins’ basement, we overlook the vending machine and rest between the elevator and a stairwell. The only office in the belly of the building, we offer Light and clarity on the written word. Stop by today.

Written by: All staff!

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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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The Logo of the UWC

DBU established the Writing Center in 1991, representing itself under many different logos throughout the years. When first established, the UWC utilized no logo, and the first one was put in place around 2004. Looking at the history of our logos and their development, they reflect the growth of the writing center through the years.

In reaching out to former UWC Director Beverley Powell, I learned that before she started creating an official logo, they used a clipart of a quill on the handouts. When they started publishing them online, Kirsten Waddle created the logo of a red and blue, 4-point star with “UWC” in the center. It looked very simple, but it served the purpose of identifying our handouts.

The next logo arrived around the same time the lovely Kā Riley became Director; it featured three Scrabble tiles that spell out “UWC”. This derived from a small group gathering on Fridays at the Writing Center to play Scrabble together. Though the logo is no longer used, Scrabble remains a staple in the office. The instant one walks into the office, one sees a whole shelf of Scrabble memorabilia and other references scattered about.

We developed another logo when all writing centers discovered one thing represents us all. Writing centers are now represented by owls, standing for Online Writing Lab. A talented student worker created what we now call Ollie the Owl, a logo of an owl perching on a pencil sitting on the “w” in “UWC”. Though we love all the logos we enjoyed in the past, our handouts now show the official DBU logo that was created the same time as our owl. I attempted to find more information about the logo and was unsuccessful.

Written by Belle

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The Music of Our Office

Our office resembles no silent dungeon! Amidst the muted staff chatter and consultation conversations, one often hears the soft tones of eighties rock issuing from the director’s corner. Consultants and receptionists alike create an atmosphere of hospitality and peace here, which reflects in the music they listen to. Below, find a list of songs from Writing Center staff that represents the soul of our office.

Hope – Tom Rosenthal

In the House – Crowder

Everything You Need – Margaux Beylier

Closer Than a Brother –- Josh Garrels

Always on My Mind – Jonathan Ogden, Joe Bae

Come What May – Taylor Armstrong, Sarah Juers

Everybody – Ingrid Michaelson

Sunflower – Pauline Zoe Park

Song For the Sleepless – Ollie MN

Let Us Be One – Love Song

The Office Theme (Metal Cover) – Daniel Tidwell

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

Writing a Letter – Naif

We’re Going to be Friends – The White Stripes

black coffee – Elijah Who

These songs, listed above, communicate the character of our staff to everyone who steps through the Writing Center’s door. So, visit us; you might even find yourself jamming to this playlist!

Written by Jessica

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Office Day in the Life: Tales from a Writing Consultant

Picture this: You’re a Writing Consultant at the DBU Writing Center. What do you think you do? Write papers all day? Edit student essays endlessly? Study English and grammar every hour? Well, unfortunately, these myths fail to encompass the duties and daily tasks consulting entails. Let’s take a look at a day in the life at the Writing Center as a consultant!

Mornings in the Office

In the morning, the University Writing Center (UWC) staff performs opening procedures. This includes opening the door and placing the welcome sign, bringing in the trash can, unlocking the closet and cabinets, and un-forwarding the phones. Next, consultants log into Microsoft Outlook, check the calendar for any appointments, and peruse the inbox for any emails. If emails reside in the inbox requesting help, they need 5 things before the paper receives a review: student name, professor’s name, course designation, ID number, and on- or off-campus student status. If the email meets all requirements and includes the paper in a Word document, consultants begin the reviewing process by adding comments through Microsoft Word. If an in-person appointment sits on the calendar, a consultant prepares to work with that student. This looks like grabbing a legal pad and pen, taking a glance at the paper if the student emailed it beforehand, and preparing any potential handouts. The office closes for lunch at 12 P.M. and opens up again at 1:00 P.M (1:15 P.M. on Fridays). Before closing, the staff carries out closing procedures: forwarding the phones, locking the door, and placing the “Closed for Lunch” sign on the door handle. Once the lunch break ends, the afternoon routine begins.

Afternoon Routine

At 1:00 P.M. (or 1:15 P.M. on Fridays), the UWC employees once again perform opening procedures: un-forwarding the phones, opening the door, and placing the welcome sign on the door handle. Most appointments take place in the afternoon.

POV: You’re Taking a Session as a Writing Consultant

Before sessions begin, one of the lovely receptionists signs the students into the Writing Center database by adding their basic information. Once they sign in, students make their way over to the consulting tables in the back of the room. The consultant sits behind a computer screen while facing the student. In a typical consultation, the student holds a printed copy of his or her paper while the consultant views a copy on the screen. The consultant begins with some opening dialogue: “Hi, my name is X, and I will be working with you today! Have you been to the Writing Center before? No? Welcome!” and goes on to explain grammar policies and provide an overview of the session. After opening remarks, the consultant and student establish goals for the consultation and begin the collaborative learning process. If the student desires to review grammar, the student reads the paper aloud paragraph-by-paragraph, and the consultant and student discuss after each section read. Points of discussion cover thesis, grammar, topic sentences, or whatever catches the eye of the consultant or student. If the student desires to review formatting, the student views the paper via personal laptop, and the consultant uses the handouts and formatting manuals to explain the details of layout, font, spacing, and all that good stuff. Consultations last about 45 minutes, so once they reach time, the consultant closes by asking for any last-minute questions and handing the student any handouts or written resources used throughout the session. Often, consultants ask what the student plans to do next, too, as a mini review. After the session ends, consultants take a 15-minute break to rejuvenate and prepare their minds to help the next student.

Goodnight, UWC

Evening shifts look a bit different than the rest of the day. At five, the scheduled night crew clocks in. As the office resides down in the depths of the basement, evenings remain pretty quiet unless a student comes in for a scheduled session. When consultants aren’t taking consultations, they perform roles. The UWC assigns roles to both consultants and receptionists to enhance every aspect of office life. For example, one role focuses on blogs, blog schedules, and formatting bios for each staff member. Another role updates the Writing Center social media presence and graphics. Every member of the office possesses individual talents, and roles help them utilize their gifts to better serve the Writing Center. Free time in the office looks different for each staff member. Some work on homework, some play the games sitting around in the office, and some spend most of their time on their roles. Free time in the schedule holds specific tasks for two groups: trainees and admins. Trainees work on training tasks, and admins work on training curriculum and scheduling. The UWC tries to maintain an atmosphere of productivity and professionalism while allotting time for fun and breaks away from the screen. Once the clock strikes 8 P.M., staff eagerly perform the closing procedures: forwarding the phones, taking the trash out, locking the closet and cabinets, turning off all the lights, and locking the door for the evening. At least one member of the office yanks the doorknob aggressively just to ensure it’s securely locked.

Each day in the UWC presents new adventures and excitements. Every aspect of the daily office routine reflects the charisma and unique personality the small office in the corner of the basement holds, and it’s worth a visit to see its charm. Thanks for taking a walk in a Writing Consultant’s shoes! For a more immersive Writing Center experience, stroll down to the lower level of the Collins Learning Center and enter Room 001.

Written by Deneen

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Another Semester, Another New Blog Theme

Welcome back to the hill! The Writing Center hopes you experienced a restful Christmas break and that you arrived back on campus ready to begin the spring semester on a high note! As we begin a new round of classes, events, and of course, papers, we want to give you, the student body, a chance to get to know the UWC!

Here at the UWC, we offer guidance through any stage of the writing process. We love to assist students in becoming better communicators through the written word, and we possess a passion for helping them feel as at home as possible down here while we do so. We want you to feel at ease during your sessions and think writing about ourselves, naturally, provides the best way to introduce you to our office. We also want to give you an opportunity to peek into the Writing Center if only, for a brief moment.

Over the next sixteen weeks our blog posts will focus on the Writing Center specifically. Check back here every Monday to discover what working here might feel like, our employees as individuals, and the services we offer. We want you, dear students, to feel welcomed down here in our small tucked-away oasis, and what better way to initiate that then letting you into little slivers of our lives? Meet our receptionists, consultants, and fabulous director, and learn about what it takes to keep the UWC running (year-round!).

These blogs will feature a little bit of everything: our individual personalities, the working environment and requirements, and so much more! We come up with many opportunities for fun around here, but we also work hard, and we want you gain better insight into both sides. Hopefully, you will see how we really operate, how we deliver our services, and what you might expect upon booking an appointment. Who knows—you might even be compelled to swing by and pick up an application for yourself.

We invite you to follow along with us through this series! We hope you enjoy learning a little bit more about us, and we hope to see you down here in the basement sometime this semester! Enjoy the controlled chaos that makes up the UWC; we look forward to sharing it with you!

Written by Caroline

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World Play to Roleplay

Writing: a never ending roller-coaster filled to the brim with highs, lows, and multiple loops rendering even the most strong-willed of authors nauseous. When little five-year-old Kaley first picked up a pencil, she had never imagined how much writing would weave into her life, nor how the lands filled with magic and wonder would persist past fleeting adolescence. However now on the brink of turning twenty I, grown-up Kaley, the narrator of this tale, look back and relish in how my younger self never lost that spark despite the trials of life.

When the average person thinks about school and their childhood, they imagine learning their ABCs, 123s, and other subjects that people condense into three syllable catchphrases. However, my memory floods with thoughts of immersing myself in make-believe universes. While some kids longed for recess and dreamed of spending the next hour on the playground, I myself circled a tree with my best friend as we brainstormed which story came to fruition next. Creative writing exercises always excited me as I felt grateful for a break in the relentless attacks of academia. My single-digit years showed me the door to the joy that writing brings me today.

While my early teens mostly sit in my mind as a blur, I recall how writing made me feel during that time. Creative assignments continuously grew sparser, and in their place came an influx of literary analyses and research essays. The environment of bright fluorescent lights mixed with bland words on a page suffocated me and starved my teenage years of creative engagement throughout my education. Instead, if I wanted my daydreams on pen and paper, I wrote them on my own time. With college credit always on the line, I had no choice but to abide by the laws of the land enforced by secondary education. By graduation, any dream of revisiting the nostalgic days of childhood slipped through my fingers. Writing no longer felt like a fun free-time activity; it felt like a chore.

Entering into adulthood brought forth with it many different periods of transition for myself as a person and a writer. College pushed away the monotonous days of sitting in a classroom for eight hours, and instead offered flexible scheduling and a whole lot of free time. With my newly discovered freedom, I found myself diving back into creative writing, but this time with a twist. Rather than scribbling down a paragraph about magic here or a paragraph about princesses there, I instead began building massive universes in which others might participate in. I wrote Dungeons and Dragons campaigns and collaborative story-telling prompts, and my academic writing thrived because of it. My papers no longer drone on with a monotone voice; instead, they hold word choice that clearly show my personality. I see writing, in all senses of the task, as an expression of myself.

Writing: a roller-coaster of highs, lows, and multiple loops that I never want to get off of. From barely legible childhood stories of adventures, twelve-page analytical essays, and everything in between, the activity never leaves the space in my heart it calls home. Like parents to their child, my feelings for writing may shift with the varying seasons of life, but my love for it never did and I treasure that deeply.  

Written by Kaley

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