8/26 Response

I became an Exercise Science major when I came to Florida State as a freshman. My lifelong love for dance and fitness made it an almost unquestionable choice. While I had always had a passion for writing, I had never considered pursuing a degree in English- primarily out of a flat out fear of not being "good enough". After all, the only writing I could master was a small time blog that updated my ever so compliant family and friends on my incredibly uneventful teenage life. At the time, being comfortable in what I knew trumped venturing out into an unfamiliar field.

My second semester brought me to change my major to Editing, Writing, and Media. I'll partly contribute that switch to not caring for another chemistry formula or another tedious lab. But, I'll also say that my creative side needed some tending to and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to see whether my passion could turn into something tangible.

When I started writing opinion articles for FSView, I found the value behind letting your writing age, getting an outsiders opinion, and multiple drafts. Throughout each round of edits, I wanted to ensure that I stayed true to my voice as a writer. Then, I began writing web based articles for San Francisco CASA, a nonprofit organization who advocate for the rights of neglected and abused foster youth. Incorporating research and data, finding an appropriate voice for the audience, and uncovering current issues in the foster care community was not an easy task. In fact, it had been completely out of my realm and uncomfortable at times. But as scary as it was to receive constant edits, working with an editor on a consistent basis really furthered my belief that you can't perfect your works on your own.

That is why I think the RWC is such a privilege to FSU. The immediate reaction to the word "critique" almost always involves running in the opposite direction, and understandably so. Having somebody point out where, why, and how something is "wrong", if you will, can mean being vulnerable. There's never much fun in that. I believe that constructive criticism and effective tutoring can change a students negative perspective on the writing process and help alleviate the pressure of perfection.

Tutoring is important for each student so that they understand that their efforts matter. My experiences have helped me learn that it's okay to not be "good enough" the first time around. Everything gets better with a second, third, and fourth draft as long as you're willing to put in the effort. Through the RWC, the university gains students who see the value in communicating their ideas effectively. The university gains stronger writers and thinkers, which are both equally as important within our generation. I'm really excited to put all that I've learned about tutoring and writing to use, so that other students can feel the satisfaction in developing their writing skills as well!