When Life Gives You Lemons…

“When life gives you lemons… 

My mother used to say, 

Such a predictable phrase 

Of course, we should make lemonade 

But what if we didn’t? 

Can’t we carve our own path? 

Do the unexpected,

And make the whole world gasp

Today I’d like to change your point of view 

Instead of lemonade, 

Let’s make orange juice.” 

Junie signed her name at the end with a creative script before publishing her latest piece. Another poem she hoped would generate some positive attention for her page. She certainly needed it. Her last few posts were left berated with negativity. Hateful comments criticizing both her work and even attacking her as a writer filled the past few pages. Lemons, lemons, lemons, she had bunches of them. 

Unfortunately, they never seemed to end. Once again, acidic comments flooded her page. 

“I don’t get it,” one response read. “That’s not how the phrase goes.” 

“I know you’re trying to be creative, but there’s no sense of prose.” 

“Who does this girl think she is? Can anyone even understand this?” 

“No offense, but this just doesn’t make sense.” 

And on and on the comments went. 

Junie sighed, turning off her computer screen. Too much acidity. Like the lemon juice in a paper cut, her wound stung. They just didn’t understand. No one grasped her true meaning. It’s not the fruit that matters, but the message behind it. The need to be different, the desire to change, to take the bitterness of life and twist it into something unbelievable. 

The need to be orange juice in a world of lemonade. 

Typical, she thought. The people around her never saw things the way she did. Everyone appeared to live a formulaic lifestyle. Accept the bad, cry about it later, cope with sugary sweet lemonade. Why not be different? Why not take what you’re given and throw it away? Make something new. You can’t drown everything with lemonade. 

Sitting down at her keyboard, Junie opened up her laptop and began typing again. This time, she’d create something new, something just for her.

Forget what the rest of the world said. She didn’t need their approval to make something beautiful.

Written by Naomi Hernandez

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The Love I Feel for You

I watch you every day. I watch you drink your morning coffee, watch you make breakfast, watch you brush your teeth while grumbling about it being Monday. I watch you make lunch, I watch you make dinner, I watch you make a snack and I silently hope that you’ll share it with me. I watch you live life.

            A couple of years ago, you stopped leaving every day. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t care. You stayed home all the time! You could love me all the time! You seemed stressed, though, and I did my best to comfort you. I didn’t want you to be sad, but I didn’t want you to leave either.

            I remember the first day I came here, but just barely. I think I had a life before you, but I can’t quite remember. It almost seems like I’ve lived in this house forever, slept on these floors forever, played in this backyard forever. I think I had brothers and sisters once, and sometimes I miss them. Then I see you reaching down absentmindedly to scratch my ears while you talk to the people in your computer, and I forget.

            I hope you know how much I love you. You must, right? I wait for you to wake up because my favorite thing is being with you. I don’t know what I did without you, and I know you feel the same way because you tell me all the time.

            I hardly remember life before you, and I think it’s because my life didn’t really begin until you brought me home. As I curl up beside you, kissing your face goodnight, I hope you know that this kiss means so much more. It means thank you. Thank you for being my world. I love you. Throw the ball more for me tomorrow. Goodnight.

Written by Caroline Johnson

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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

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The Ultimate UWC Character Rundown

Be honest. If you never participated in the rite of passage that is taking a “Which _______ Character Are You?” Buzzfeed quiz, you lie. Something about knowing which fictional character we most emulate remains fascinating to us all.

Here at the UWC, as one might imagine, this question comes up a lot. We compiled a list (albeit open-ended) of characters that resonate with us the most.

Which fictional character resonates with you the most?

Kā Riley:

When thinking about which fictional character reminded me of our director the most, I immediately thought of Marmee March from Louisa May Alcott’s charming novel Little Women. Marmee, known for her kindness and faithful dedication to the ones she loves, guides her family with all the qualities necessary to make a happy and healthy home. Similarly, Kā, the matriarch of our office, guides our little family with poise, kindness, and grace, training us on the value of good servant leadership while simultaneously never forgetting to remind us of her love for each and every one of us.

Deneen Sanchez:

Deneen radiates Elle Woods energy. Similar to Legally Blonde’s bright and bubbly protagonist, Deneen’s infectious personality permeates every inch of our office. Like Elle, she loves pink and always dresses in the cutest outfits. But even more so, Deneen remains a faithful and intelligent friend who doesn’t shy away from a heavy workload and leads with poise and grace. She lights up our office daily—if you happen by room 001 at any point during one of her shifts, stop for a moment to listen to the rambunctious laughter emanating from within. As the Consultant Coordinator, she takes her job very seriously, but knows how to have fun regardless. Somehow, she keeps our office running while simultaneously being a great friend—what, like it’s hard?

Jessica Findley:
Jessica, our senior consultant, gives off a vibe that practically screams Elinor Dashwood—from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, of course. Elinor, a steady, calm, and reliable friend, harbors a kind and dedicated heart that shows in all areas of her life. She radiates quiet friendliness and always remains studious in all she does. Similarly, Jessica, while studious and hard-working, never withholds a kind word to one who needs it. She provides the sweetest email responses, writes words of encouragement, and keeps at her tasks with obvious dedication. Her love for her job and her colleagues shows up abundantly clear in all she does. The perfect mix of sense and sensibility, Jessica helps lead our office with faithful dedication. Jane Austen would be proud.

Kayla Harper:
Kayla and I tried, one day, to assign each person in the office a Hunger Games character because I told her she reminded me of Katniss Everdeen. While Katniss possess a number of negative qualities that Kayla absolutely does not share, I think if the UWC needed to participate in some sort of DBU-wide Hunger Games, Kayla would win. Both Kayla and Katniss possess large amounts of resourcefulness and wit, and I just know Kayla could find a way to survive on her own in the wild. Katniss and Kayla also retain fiercely loyalty to the ones they love the most, ready to go to battle for them if needed. So, I guess I mean that Kayla might become the UWC’s hope in case of a dystopian novel-type uprising here on campus.

Kaley Crocker:

When thinking about Kaley and to whom she compares, one name came to mind: Mia Thermopolis of The Princess Diaries fame. Both possess an infectiously sweet and bubbly personality while simultaneously courageously sticking to their morals. While Kaley never found herself in line for the throne a of a far-away country (I don’t think), she does demonstrate a dedicated and steady work ethic that tells me she would experience no problems running a kingdom one day. She keeps our office running through detailed, informative information and stellar consultation sessions, and she throws herself into tasks with diligence and dedication, much like our beloved Princess Mia. But Kaley, if you do find out that Julie Andrews shares your family tree, please hit me up; I want to meet her.

Belle Guy:

Belle and I found ourselves in agreement over which character she most resembles: none other than Rapunzel from Disney’s Tangled. Not only does Belle adore the character and the movie, but she and Rapunzel share so many similarities, I would commit a crime if I did not include her on this list. Both Belle and Rapunzel radiate kindness, passion, joy, and not to mention a love of art and creating. If Belle came in with a live chameleon on her shoulder, I wouldn’t even blink an eye; she loves animals. While Rapunzel usually wears purple and Belle yellow, both girls’ sense of style is fun and cheerful. Both also have an affinity for wearing flowers in their hair. I don’t think Belle can heal anyone via her magical glowing hair, but I do know that she possesses all the same qualities that make Rapunzel such a beloved character.

Naomi Hernandez:

Naomi told me that she resonates the most with Lucy Pevensie from C.S. Lewis’s sweeping Christian allegory, The Chronicles of Narnia. She shares Lucy’s sense of wonder and faith, as well as her kind heart and trusting attitude. I couldn’t agree more. She also admires Lucy’s ability to lead at such a young age, which makes sense because Naomi herself remains a great leader too. She always wears a smile, comes in with a positive attitude, and assists others patiently, just like her Narnian counterpart. She remains such a kind and caring addition to our office, and as she herself states, if she found a portal to Narnia, no one would never see her again.  

Rachel Caña:
Rachel reminds me of everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood superhero—his human alter-ego, Peter Parker, at least. Rachel perfectly encapsulates everything we love about New York’s web-slinging defender: kindness, intelligence, humor, charisma, not to mention savviness with all things technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if she actually revealed herself as a superhero on top of everything else she already does. She embodies Peter’s caring heart as well; as a receptionist, she responds to calls and checks students in, and she does it all with a smile on her face. A friend to all, Rachel fitted in seamlessly with the UWC family and makes it a brighter place daily. I’m not saying the Writing Center runs a very high risk of one of us getting bit by a radioactive spider, but if one of us does, I look at Rachel.

Gayle Badrina:

To whom should I compare Gayle other than Mia from La La Land? Her whimsy and colorful style and her love of stories practically scream Mia. If Gayle did not bless us with her presence, I could definitely see her working in the arts, just like Mia, spending her days immersed in good stories and good company. Gayle’s kind and giving nature match her impeccable style, and I easily imagine her in any part of the movie. She dazzles our office with color, joy, and wit. She belongs in a movie! Our tucked-away little corner of the L.C. certainly becomes a “city of stars” when she clocks into work.

Gracie Hatley:
No other character matches Gracie quite like Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings. Her steadfastness in her work and her loyalty to her friends match up exactly with Frodo’s gentle best friend. Samwise doesn’t have a caffeine addiction, but other than that, their personalities line up so well. Both remain dedicated, hardworking, and kind, and they both care deeply about those closest to them. Gracie never fails to give a sweet word or helpful piece of advice, and her role as chaplain further emphasizes her tender heart and helpful spirit. If you need to bring a magical ring to Mordor, ask Gracie.

Caroline Johnson (me):
I relate a lot to the titular character in Anne of Green Gables. While I have not been sent to live with testy spinster and her tenderhearted brother, and my hair color does not match a carrot’s, I do harbor an overactive imagination and a somewhat restless spirit. Anne possesses a more fearless spirit than me, but she also cares deeply about what matters most to her, and I do, too. She likes to live in her own fabricated worlds and spin whimsical tales, and I do too. If anyone here ever runs away to a beautiful Canadian paradise, I seem the most likely.

So, there you go! The UWC, filled with colorful, vibrant colleagues, provides an incredible showcase of our varied personalities. None of us think exactly alike, and that diversity makes the Writing Center so special. Working alongside these women and experiencing the loveliness of each of their personalities on a weekly basis remain nothing short of a blessing. They possess the very best qualities of the characters to which I compared them, and I think that’s beautiful.

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Written by Caroline

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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Writing Experiences Throughout My Education

 As early as pre-kindergarten to the day of college graduation, students encounter writing in a variety of ways. From journaling about my summer to conforming to the prompts of standardized tests, writing throughout my education took different forms, and each one affected my perspective. The progression of these forms depicts the transition of my prose development as well as my growth as a writer. 

My writing experiences in elementary school, middle school, high school, and college enhanced my perspective as a learner and prepared me to face real-world situations.  

I started my educational writing journey in the early ages of prekindergarten. I wielded a pencil in my small, marker-covered hand, and I took on whatever topic my teacher told me to write about. Most elementary school assignments prompt students to write about personal experiences, as it’s easier for children to write about themselves. I wrote about my summer, my favorite holidays, and anything else that sparked my interest. I found my love for writing during this age; the opportunity to cultivate thoughts from my imagination into story form excited my young mind.  

Middle school held more critical writing tasks. Writing for standardized tests began in upper-elementary, but the expectations at this level carried more weight. Rather than personal writing, prompts consisted of essay practices, historical document-based questions, and test questions. These types of assignments negatively influenced my perspective on writing. My intrinsic motivation shattered, as I started to associate writing with laborious standardized test prompts rather than enjoyable opportunities for creativity. My joy for writing continued, but dreary, tedious writing assignments and the pressure to achieve higher test scores stifled its previous excitement. 

High school essays surpassed middle school writing in rigor and pressure increased drastically. Most writing consisted of expository essays, book reviews, literature compositions, and research papers. Full disclosure: I found this type of writing extremely boring. I loved making connections between literature and annotating, but researching historical facts and writing about scientific studies put me to sleep. I also found college-entry essay writing repulsive. The very idea of talking about my interests stimulated my anxiety, and the weight college essays hold in the application process made it even worse. In contrast, the aspect of literary analysis and examining symbolism captivated my attention. Locating and investigating the use of literary techniques felt like putting puzzle pieces together to solve a mystery. New connections between texts or literary elements represented the finding of hidden clues, and I desired to take the role of Sherlock Holmes in my writing. Besides my disinterest in research papers and expository essays, I still delighted in the mystery element of writing and in the beauty and power of words.  

College writing holds the most opportunities to apply learning to real-world situations. As an education major, I write lesson plans, educational philosophies, and descriptions for professional-portfolio development. This type of writing carries the most meaning for me since it applies to my future career. Writing lesson plans plays a substantial role in teaching; therefore, any practice I participate in further equips me for my future. Of course, in my college career, I still have the responsibility of writing research papers and expository essays, but my previous educational experiences prepared me for the expectations. Throughout my schooling, I transitioned from writing as a form of expression to writing with meaning. The practice elementary, middle, and high school provided me developed my communication skills and progressed my writing abilities to meet real-world applications. 

Writing looked different for me through each stage of education. From fun journal entries to repulsive research papers, my writing experiences depict a transition in my prose development and perspective as a maturing writer. My writing experiences in elementary, middle, and high school along with my current college practices reflect the progress in my learning and preparation to face real-world situations. 

Written by Deneen

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