Students who need help from the Writing Center can schedule to meet and get help from tutors. According to the student website, myconnect.waynesburg.edu, tutors must have the academic requirement of an A or B average in the class they want to tutor for, or have the potential to complete the course with an A or B. The website also says that a tutor must be able to work well with others and the professor for the class they wish to tutor for has to fill out a tutor recommendation form.
Senior tutor Sophie Kipe had used the writing center before she became a tutor.
“I chose to join the Writing Center because I’ve experienced its benefits firsthand. It’s truly such a fantastic resource for WU students,” Kipe said.
“Tutoring fellow students has been such a cool experience. The biggest thing I’ve learned from tutoring my peers has been that there’s always something to learn from each other. Tutoring fellow students has shown me that we’re all a huge community of learners, each contributing in different ways,” Kipe said. “Tutoring in the Writing Center has definitely refined my skills as a writer. It’s also helped me develop more diligence and proactivity as a student as I see the importance of putting forth my best effort in every assignment. Tutoring has taught me to intentionally keep an open mind and be ready to learn something new.”
The Writing Center has helped junior Becky Shank become better in many aspects other than writing she said.
“Honestly, I have really grown a lot as a student because of tutoring. Not only has working in the Writing Center helped me strengthen and improve my own writing abilities, but it has also helped me grow in terms of time management, organization, leadership and instructional abilities as well,” Shank said.“Learning how to put my own spin on tutoring has helped me approach writing, learning, and teaching in some really fun, new ways.”
“To me, tutoring is so much more than just working with a student on a paper. When I’m tutoring, I often get opportunities to encourage and uplift students who are feeling stressed, discouraged, confused, unsure, or insecure about their writing; I really cherish these kinds of opportunities. To be able to tutor other students means getting to connect with them genuinely and help them work through aspects of the writing process as a whole, and helping in a way so that they feel confident and empowered in their abilities as they leave a tutoring session,” Shank said.
Becky Shank looks to improve other students’ view of writing.
“I chose to become a Writing Center tutor because I have really grown to love writing, but I didn’t always enjoy it before college,” Shank explained. “I wanted to show other students who may hold a negative or uninterested view on writing that the writing experience can be one that’s fun and enjoyable. I also wanted to be a person to other students who is encouraging, uplifting and positive within the tutoring setting, because some students come in having only been told negative things about their writing abilities. If I can help build the confidence of students who come in for sessions while also making the session an enjoyable experience, that is an incredibly fulfilling opportunity.”
Stephanie Wielkopolan, the head of the Writing Center, typed in an email interview her view of the tutors in the writing center. “Tutors at the Writing Center offer support, encouragement and insight to fellow students daily. They positively impact others more than they realize and they are the heart of our center. Peer tutoring is a powerful tool that invites students to learn from each other. I am proud to have the opportunity to work with the tutors in the Writing Center.”
Being a tutor at Waynesburg University is a great way to sharpen your skills as a writer, meet and help new people, and develop personal growth. They are a resource that you would not want to miss out on.