A Letter to the Overwhelmed Writer

Dear Overwhelmed Writer,

So. You’re overwhelmed. Whether you’re a new student fresh into your first semester of college or a veteran scholar deep in the slogs of Finals Week, it’s only natural to feel this way when times get tough and classes get tougher. Maybe your classes are filling up your schedule with assignments, or perhaps you are facing an essay with a page requirement higher than you can count on your fingers. I have been in your place many times myself, and while I know it can be stressful or even frightening at times, I also know that you can persevere. Here are three tips you can use to help move beyond your overwhelmed feelings and move towards a finished paper:

1. Stop and Breathe. You won’t be able to get a single thing done if you’re drowning in all the stuff you need to accomplish. If you take a moment to pause and clear your mind, you will start to recognize that your hugely intimidating task can be broken into more manageable pieces. Have a long paper to write and can’t think of where to begin? Break your time into chunks of researching and writing and spread them throughout your free time up until the due date, saving a few hours in the final days beforehand for edits and revisions. Have a dozen assignments due this week besides your paper and don’t know where to start? Take a deep breath, break out your schedule, and section up your days in a way that will be most effective for the completion of your work. Sprinkle your smaller assignments among chunks of your longer assignments, including your essay, and save some time to rest and recharge. You can’t work with a frazzled brain or an empty tank.
   
2. Have Confidence in Yourself! We at the Writing Center certainly do! After all, you wouldn’t have been admitted into college if you didn’t have the skills necessary to write a successful paper. Though your assignments might be pressing on all sides, you have the capability to rise up. If you use your time wisely and believe you can do it with a little work, you are sure to triumph over your busiest weeks. Any paper you are assigned can be completed, no matter the circumstances of the semester. If you’re unfamiliar with your paper’s subject, there are resources that can help you; libraries, online scholarly journals, and university resources. Utilizing resources like this will help you familiarize yourself with your topic and write a successful paper on it. If your upcoming essay must be longer than you thought was possible, don’t fret—trust your professors. They know you are more than intelligent enough to form a cohesive argument and weave it throughout your essay, and you should believe them when they say so! You have the resources and the ability to write a paper that is uniquely your own. Trust yourself as a writer!
   
3. Focus on the Paper at Hand. I know from experience that you can’t write a paper when you’re thinking about other assignments or even when you’re thinking of how you’re going to fill up the blank space in the rest of your essay. While you are writing, it is crucial that you focus on what you are putting on the page. Be careful not to let your mind wander—that will open the floodgates for stress to rush in and cloud your thoughts. Keep your essay outline or thesis statement close at hand and refer back to it whenever you begin to feel your thoughts drift to other things. Your focus is imperative to writing your paper in a proper amount of time; delving into your stress will only slow you down and cause you to feel more overwhelmed. As hard as it may be, keep those thoughts at bay and just write!

Most importantly, understand that you are not alone. Every student feels overwhelmed at times, whether from the daunting swarm of tasks in a certain part of the semester or from a particularly frightening research paper. Every student struggles, and every student can overcome, including you! Remember that your professors want to help, not to harm you, and that you have a myriad of resources to aid you in your essay conquest. When your feelings of stress and fear become relentless, it is always best to reach out to your professors. They will most likely understand what you are going through, and will almost always be willing to help. You should also reach out to friends; they might share some stories about their own experiences or perhaps will lend a shoulder to lean on. But above all, reach out to God. As Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God will be with you as you endeavor to write in these challenging circumstances. Now take a deep breath, know you can do it, and write!

Sincerely,
Jessica

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A Not-So-Imaginative Letter to the Imaginative Writer

Dear Imaginative Writer,

I am speaking from a perspective of admiration. Writing creatively is not easy, yet you conquer the task with flying colors. To be a visionary is a gift. I believe everyone is capable of reaching their imaginative potential but being able to pull the more extraordinary thoughts from your mind and structure them into a writing piece is a skill that not everyone possesses. Though I think the beauty of imaginative writing lies in the freedom of creativity, I want to offer some tips on how to use your imaginative mind to write in both creative and academic settings. 

Brainstorming: Let Your Mind Run Wild

In the brainstorming stage, coming up with ideas can be a difficult task. This is a prime time for imaginative thinking. Study the topic and allow your mind to roam freely, jotting down any ideas your vibrant imagination produces. These ideas may seem completely bizarre, but this thought process can provide a source of inspiration and a strong foundation for your paper. Brainstorming is a key tool in planning out both creative and academic writing; imaginative thinking can be applied in either situation. This type of thinking can lead to outside-of-the-box ideas, which are perfect for formulating unique approaches to writing topics. Imaginative writers, use your creative minds to your advantage, and let your imaginative spirit guide your writing journey.

Your Imagination is a Tool, Not a Distraction

One of the main characteristics of imaginative writing is the ability to think beyond the stars. This is a wonderful attribute, and I encourage you to continue to break those creative boundaries. Imaginative ideas can be used as tools to promote innovation and stimulate critical thinking that leads to inventive solutions. However, be cautious of letting your thoughts act as distractions. Similar to how daydreaming can divert the attention of a bored student in class, getting lost in imagination can interfere with a writer’s ability to stay on topic. Now, don’t get me wrong, sometimes daydreams hold the key to inspiration. But, in some cases, these thoughts just lead you off task. A free imagination is beautiful, but it is easy to get lost in it. If you want to stick to a main idea, relevancy is important, and straying too far from your desired focus can lead to problems connecting points in the future. It’s difficult to communicate a message if the main points are scattered. Regardless if you are writing creatively or academically, an unorganized paper can confuse a reader. Writing is a disciplined process, and there is a balance between channeling creative expression and maintaining structure. Imaginative thinking is best utilized during the brainstorming process, as there is more freedom to dive into the vibrant depths of the imagination.

When forming a thesis, constructing body paragraphs, and finalizing a conclusion, creative expression can be incorporated but with the organization of the writing process as the overriding framework. Exercise your ability to think imaginatively, but let it serve as an enhancement to your writing rather than a hindrance. 

Stay Encouraged and Inspired

Not all of your ideas are going to be out-of-the-box or groundbreaking beams of artistry, but do not be discouraged! No writer is solely made up of good ideas. Learn from the ideas that are not your most creative, and build off them. You have seen the potential of your imaginative writing, so use the more average ideas as foundations to grow. The most important thing is to keep writing. Your natural creativity is bound to formulate something majestic, but it can only happen if you persevere. With an active imagination, anything in your surroundings can act as your muse. An imaginative writer can be inspired by places and things that others don’t consider. Think about the journeys you can take your reader on. Where you find inspiration can immensely influence your writing, and with your imaginative spirit, you can engage your reader using wherever you are with whatever you have.

Using Your Imagination Academically

Academic writing encompasses many guidelines such as formatting, specific prompts, and extensive research. However, your imaginative mind still has room to blossom! Use your blooming creativity to approach a prompt in an extraordinary way. Writing can be formal and creative. Ultimately, it is of utmost importance to follow the structure and guidelines of the professor, but your writing is still your own. Imaginative writing leads to innovative thinking. Maybe you can approach an argument from a unique perspective or display your creativity in your research project. Your imaginative nature can seep into the analysis of literature and other academic subjects, and your ability to think beyond the ordinary can add to the exceptionality of your writing.

The most important tip I can give you is to continue to utilize your imaginative mind. Your vibrant creativity is a gift, a gift that can be shared with the world through beautiful writing. Writing can become mundane, but your imaginative spirit invokes inspiration. Let your imagination run wild, and keep kindling innovation!

Stay creative,

Deneen

Written by Deneen

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The Change

Throughout your life, you will experience numerous changes: moving from one city to another, meeting new people, and transitioning from one job to the next. Whether you are becoming complacent in your current job or entering the workforce for the first time, one of the most important elements for the job search is a résumé. In order to land an interview with your dream company, you must submit a polished résumé, which is a small example of your fine characteristics. Let’s take a look at some of the tedious details of writing a résumé to, hopefully, help you in your journey full of transitions.

First, most recruiters only look at your one-page résumé for approximately 5-20 seconds, so it is crucial to make a quick strong impression. The number one rule for résumés is this: ensure there are no grammatical errors. If a recruiter picks up a résumé and notices multiple misspellings or typos, it does not look good for you. Although this might seem like a shameless promo, I will still say it: you should consider sitting down with one of the consultants at your university’s writing center in order to work through your résumé. If you are no longer a college student, then you should contact some friends or family members who have strong grammatical skills.

Now, what about the layout of the résumé? In a world full of different templates and guides for résumés, the possibilities are endless. In my Business Communications class, my professor, Dr. Justin Gandy, told us that one of his past students went to job interviews with two different résumés. One résumé had a more modern layout and the other was more traditional. Interestingly, the response seemed to vary depending upon the interviewer’s particular preference. Learn about the company and job for which you are applying to enhance and strengthen your résumé. If it is a more modern and hip company, then maybe you could earn an interview with a more modern résumé. One tip in this area: do not place a photo on your résumé in order to avoid discrimination.

Once you have picked a layout, start analyzing the minute details. At the beginning of the résumé, write your name in a bold, large font in order to draw attention. Underneath your name, place your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn account. Some people believe that if you place your phone number first, then you have a higher likelihood of receiving the position. I cannot claim this to be true; however, I still place it first just in case that’s true.

Beneath your contact information, you can create a job summary section. Now, this section is highly debated. Some people believe it is unnecessary while others believe it is. Ultimately, this is your résumé, so it is up to you, but I will briefly describe this section. You have an option of writing complete sentences or you can simply create strong phrases. Within this section, highlight the specific qualifications that make you the perfect person for this position. In fact, some companies put the papers through a digital evaluation, which highlights key words that are crucial to the particular position. Because of this, evaluate the job description and ensure you match your characteristics to the position you want. As you may realize, this section will change depending on the job for which you are applying; however, key concepts will still be included.

Finally, for your work experience, you should start with the most recent position and work your way backward. In this section, it is imperative to create strong bullet points to describe your responsibilities and duties at particular jobs you’ve held. In fact, in Business Communications, the professor told the class to ponder ways in which you exceeded expectations. Rather than simply listing the responsibilities at your previous jobs, think about how you excelled and outshone most employees. It is also important to use strong action verbs for each bullet point and ensure parallelism throughout. For example, if your résumé includes the verbs achieved, calculated, and guided, then you would not want the last verb to be leading because it does not match the other verb tenses. For more information about parallelism and a list of action verbs, follow these links: Parallel Constructions and Action Words.

Once you have completed this section, create a new area dedicated to your education. Within this, place your major, minor, university, and graduation year. Many people like to place their GPA here, but it is not recommended to do so if your GPA is lower than a 4.0. My professor in Business Communications also told us to write a short summary of an impactful experience from a class or college memory that applies to your characteristics. For example, if you mention your ability to work well within a team, then mention in this summary a time in which you worked with a group to complete a project. By doing this, you might just shine brighter than other applicants, especially if it is an internship.

Exhausted yet? No worries because we are at the end of my tips. If you have room within the one-page résumé to place a section for your achievements or volunteer work, then ensure each item corresponds directly to the characteristics mentioned above. Never write more than one page; think about your statements thoroughly to ensure they are completely necessary. Overall, there are different ways to complete résumés; however, these are some of my simple tips to create a successful application. By enacting some of these tips, you may just change your life forever.

Written by Trisha

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For more information on how to write a résumé, check out our General Résumé Development handout on the Quick Reference Flyer page of our website!

Let’s Get Personal: Writing a Profile Essay

A profile is a great type of essay to write for many reasons. Profiles focus on a particular person, place, or event, and use vivid description techniques to engage the audience. Furthermore, the subject matter usually holds personal importance to the author, so it differs from a descriptive paper in that the personal meaning is discussed and illustrated.

The Mechanics of the Essay

Mechanically, there are a few basic things to remember when writing a profile. For the introduction, you could begin with an anecdote or give background information, which will help the author give context and meaning to the paper. Following this, the writer can introduce the subject.

The body paragraphs of the profile will contain three to five key characteristics of the subject matter. Each characteristic should examine the most important qualities of the topic. There should not be vague or general statements within this paper. Each characteristic is intentional and has great detail and description involved.

The conclusion should summarize the paper and needs to have the specific characteristics restated. There should not be any new information presented in the conclusion, only things that were specifically discussed within the paper.

Practical Steps to Planning the Paper

The best place to start with this type of essay is to pick the specific person, place, or event that you will be focusing on for the paper. Following this, pick three to five important characteristics and include details. Then, go back and expand on each characteristic in order to explain the importance of each. From here, you can write, revise, and edit. Most importantly, remember to not get stressed out and just take the writing process one step at a time.

Profile Example

“Yay, they’re here!” shouted the refugee kids in Salt, Spain. Kids of all ages gathered around as my mission’s team pulled out soccer balls, jump ropes, glitter tattoos, and other fun activities. I paused and took a second to soak in the moment. Kids from all backgrounds with different stories were happily playing on the concrete of the plaza, delighted by the games we brought. Serving in Salt and Girona, Spain, was one of the most profound trips I have gone on, and I am grateful for what I experienced: the diversity, culture, and opportunity to spread the Gospel.

The people who live in Spain come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, yet it is a place where anyone can fit in. The people are kind, friendly, and willing to help the tourists, and want them to experience their culture. I was very nervous about going to another country, especially because it was my first time out of America, but I found everyone whom I encountered personable and eager to help me figure out directions and how to pay with Euros. Furthermore, many Spaniards are eager to interact with tourists. It was such a blessing to share Bible stories in Spanish and Catalan, the official languages of Girona, Spain. Many of the Muslims and other refugees took children’s Bibles with them and brought them back to their houses.

In addition, I loved the pace of life in Spain. Every shop closes for lunch each day for an hour, and dinner is an experience in and of itself. Dinner typically begins around eight or nine and lasts until eleven or midnight. Dinnertime is one aspect of how they value family and community while eating, and it was something I came to treasure while I was visiting. Everyone reminisces about his/her day, laughs, and enjoys the community of others. I find that this is something we lack in America where everything in this country is about having fast and convenient meals, which can sometimes take away from the aspect of intentional community.

Spain is an awesome mission field because the faith is dying out there. Beautiful cathedrals are not much more than museums nowadays, and only two percent of Spaniards are Christians. It was very humbling and impactful to serve alongside the missionary family and their partners. We heard from one of the missionary kids that she was the only Christian in her entire school. She described how difficult and lonely her journey has been growing up in Spain. Yet, she was thankful for the opportunity the Lord gave her to share her faith with so many around her.

Spain will always hold a special place in my heart. From the people, the lifestyle, and the opportunity to share the hope and love of Christ, it is a neat place. I hope that I will be able to return there one day in order to serve the people of Spain more and continue the ministry that we started.

Written by Amanda

For more information on how to write a profile essay, check out our Profile Essay handout and the Quick Reference Flyer page of our website!

Beyond Beta: Five Lessons I’ve Learned on the Wall

In the rock climbing community, the term beta refers to information about a climb, which may also be called a route. Beta can include anything from a route’s rating of difficulty, style, or length, all the way to specific hand, foot, or body positions needed to successfully complete the climb.

For those who are new to climbing, it might seem that utilizing effective beta is the quickest way to improve as a climber. I certainly thought this was true when I began climbing almost two years ago. While understanding and using correct beta is of immense value, the mental rather than physical aspects of the sport are often just as, if not more, important to successful climbing.

Over the past year and a half, I have learned five valuable lessons that take me beyond beta to a deeper level of understanding of myself. Both as a climber and as a person, these lessons have helped me consider who I am and who I want to be, and I find them applicable both on and off the wall.

1. Comparison is the enemy.

In climbing, just as in life, the people next to us are seldom equal to us in skill. On rare occasions, they might know less than we do, but far more often, we find ourselves surrounded by those who are miles more experienced. Compare yourself to others and you are sure to board a one-way flight to failure. Yet, the lesson I have learned through climbing is not that we should isolate ourselves from those who are more accomplished in an attempt to feel confident about ourselves. Indeed, I have learned quite the opposite. Dr. Daniel Rose, my professor and academic advisor, loves to remind his class, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” In both climbing and life, this saying rings true. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, never compare yourself, and be humble enough to learn from the knowledge and wisdom of others.

2. Give encouragement and seek out encouragers.

If you read my blog “Handling Criticism: Five Lessons from the Great British Baking Show,” you probably remember me stressing that encouragement is an important ingredient for success. This fact is true of anything that we set out to accomplish, but it is especially true on the wall. Not only must we seek encouragers, but we must readily give encouragement ourselves. As in life, you’re not likely to succeed as a climber unless you intentionally surround yourself with people who desire to see you succeed.

3. Your mind will hold you back if you let it.

When allowed, the mind can and will shackle the body. There are so many temptations, in life and in climbing, to view tasks as impossible to accomplish. For example, take the ratings of routes, which in a typical climbing gym range anywhere from 5.6 to 5.13. These ratings, while in some ways helpful, may also hold climbers back if they allow themselves to dwell too long on them. Rather than rating the difficulty of the mountains we must climb, both literally and figuratively, what if we chose to free our minds from these shackles and truly believe that anything is possible with enough faith?

4. Fail often and always try again.

Failure is a part of life, and it is definitely a part of climbing. If you’re not failing, you’re doing something wrong. Never be afraid to push yourself to the limit. In both climbing and life, try a harder route, take the road less traveled even when there is no map. And, when failure comes your way, dedicate yourself to getting back on your feet, dusting yourself off, and trying again. I have found that my greatest achievements on the wall, the routes I am proudest of completing, have come after a long, hard struggle for success.

5. Talk to the person next to you.

Our days are filled with so many people whom we have the opportunity to talk to, and yet, so often, we choose to remain isolated. This is especially true when climbing. In a climbing gym, there are many people crowded together in a close vicinity, each struggling toward the same goal, yet there is still such a temptation to find your route, get in the zone, and stick to yourself. Perhaps the most treasured lesson I’ve learned on the wall is that, sometimes, the greatest joy in climbing is talking to the person next to you. In climbing, just as in life, every person has a story. So the next time you’re sizing up the wall or sitting in the break room or waiting for class to start, take a leap of faith and reach out to the person next to you. You never know the joy that this simple act might bring.

It has been far more difficult than expected to put into words all the passionate thoughts and feelings I experience while climbing. However, for both climbers and those who prefer to keep their feet planted firmly on the ground, I truly hope that these five lessons encourage you to shoot for new heights both on and off the wall.

Written by Meredith (NEW: Click on author’s name to learn more about him or her!)

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5 Lethal Mistakes Freshmen Make and How to Avoid Them

As a sage senior and soon-to-be-graduate, I have a lot of knowledge in my noggin. It’s not necessarily the traditional text-book kind of knowledge, but rather an acute awareness that only time can provide. Basically, this is my fourth year around the collegiate sun of observing bushy-tailed freshmen navigate their new habitat. Seniors often joke about the silly quirks all freshmen students have until the passing of their first Christmas break seasons them a little. And lately, with all these fresh-faced young ones eagerly roaming the campus around me, so blithe, so nimble, so…frightful, to be honest, it got me thinking about all the quirks and misconceptions about college I had as a young freshette. To be a little less of that typical freshman on campus, heed the following tips, and you’ll trick people into thinking you know you what you’re doing.

1. Nobody Knows What They’re Doing

I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m a senior! When it seems as if everyone on your hall is far more familiar with the campus, the people, and the whereabouts of everything cool to do and see than you are, there is a 100% chance that person is as clueless as you. The biggest fault of freshman is not that they don’t know things, it’s that they pretend as if they do. Trust me, you’ll come across much more mature and reasonable if you ask questions about the things you don’t know.

2. Nobody Has Friends Yet

Okay, this is a bit of an exaggeration. Some people really do stick with the friends they made during freshman year all throughout college. But it’s rare. In fact, it’s natural and expected that by the time you graduate, you’ll have a totally different crew of friends, true friends, to do life with. It’s natural because building friendships takes time. Freshman feel pressured to be sociable 24/7, never be caught doing anything alone, or worst of all, eat alone *gulp* But the fact is, even if looks like everyone around you already has a gaggle of friends, chances are they’re doing the same thing as you: buddying up with randos to look like they know and love everyone. It’s okay to do stuff alone. In fact, you might make friends with a few upperclassmen by going to things alone; they’ll think you’re one of them.

3. Wearing Your I.D Around Your Neck

Don’t do it. Just don’t. Back pocket? Fine. Wallet? Fine. Attached to a lanyard hanging around your neck? Never.

4. Don’t Dress Like a Slob for Class

On your first day of classes, you saw them: girls hopeful for a ring-by-spring wearing a full face of makeup, sporting freshly straightened hair while wearing…Nike shorts, Chacos, and an over-sized t-shirt. Ya know what will make not only a favorable impression with your professors but also with your fellow students? Dressing up a little! We know that you care, so dress like it. It’s okay to be sloppy every now and then, but there will be ample opportunity for that come finals week. You’ll fit in much more with the wiser upperclassmen if you slip into a blouse instead of a t-shirt every once in a while.

5. You Don’t Have to Go to Everything

Go to every class, but don’t go to every event. Enjoy your college experience, take advantage of the free time that you have, but you don’t have to go to every school event unless that’s truly how you roll. A lot of the “college experiences” you’ll look back on with fondness are going to the movies on a weeknight and staying in and eating ice cream with your roommates.

Freshman year can be a lot of fun, and as cheesy as it sounds, the key is to be yourself. Do what’s fun for you. Be patient with finding friends you truly connect with, and they might become pals for life. You’ll encounter some of the most trying times of your life, and also have some of the best times; don’t waste it! We all made and will make silly mistakes due to inexperience, but I can guarantee that by heeding these tips, you’ll come across a little wiser and enjoy yourself a lottle more.

Written by Karoline

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How to Become a Better Academic Reader

As a student, a large portion of my homework revolves around assigned, academic reading, and as an English major, that is increased tenfold. As much as I love reading, I don’t usually enjoy the topics I’m reading about in those assignments, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. However, over time, I have discovered a few tips and tricks that have helped me with academic reading and to make it slightly less painful to endure.

One lesson about reading that I have repeatedly learned the hard way is to avoid procrastination. I’m sure we are all familiar with the mad dash to finish two weeks’ worth of reading in the space of one evening and promising ourselves we won’t put it off this long next time, only to repeat the same process the following week. The best solution to the problem of procrastination is to schedule out the reading over the course of the assignment time. If you have fifty pages to do in five days, do ten pages per night instead of all at one time. For people like me who may have trouble sticking to this schedule, I’ve found the best thing to do is to block out a chunk of time in the day to do that specific assignment and to not do anything else until the reading is done.

Another common problem that comes with reading textbooks is getting bored easily. The temptation to check my phone or talk with my friends increases exponentially with my distaste for the particular topic I’m studying. I can spend hours reading my favorite novel but, after five minutes of reading a history book, I have checked out completely. To help combat the boredom, I try to make the assignment fun for me in some way. Either I will reward myself for reaching certain milestone in the assignment (i.e. eat a piece of chocolate every time I finish a page), or I will choose colored pens or highlighters and use them to mark and annotate in my book. It seems like such a silly, little thing, but using the various colors gives the task a fun element that makes it more enjoyable. Whatever way you can come up with to help you enjoy the assignment will take some of the edge off of the monotony.

When I find myself struggling to focus, I will also sometimes take notes to help focus myself and ensure that I don’t miss anything. While this method may not work for everyone, some people may find it helpful for keeping their concentration. Also, similar to the highlighter technique mentioned before, making your notes colorful or artistic can be another useful trick in having a more pleasant experience. However, be careful to not get too caught up in the note making and lose focus on the actual reading. Do what you need to do to stave off boredom while still getting work done efficiently.

Because textbooks and academic reading are just a fact of life when we’re a students, we have to learn how to use them in a way that will best work for us individually. Whether you’re super artistic and make the most colorful and decorative notes or you prefer to go in cold turkey and read the whole book in one sitting, it’s important to make the experience the best it can possibly be. So, next time you have a reading assignment get out the gel pens, grab a bar of chocolate and ready your notebook. Happy reading!

Written by Taylor

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