The first three years of college I only ever worked a job during the summer or winter breaks. I didn't think I could handle a part time job while also being a full time student. However, I was also tired of being fully financially reliant on my parents. I wanted to have an income so that I could pay for my own sorority dues, internet, and food, to name a few things. I had wanted to get a job as a writing tutor because as an English major, writing is one of my strengths. I applied to be a tutor for the OWRC (Odegaard Writing and Research Center) during the summer between sophomore and junior year, but I did not get the job. I really wanted the job though, so I applied again the next year, and I got it! I ended up working as a writing tutor for the entirety of my senior year. Even though I considered myself to be a strong writer at the beginning of senior year, there were definitely areas i was not confident in, such as cover letters and poetry. However, by the end of the year, I had learned how to improve these types of writing and more. Not only did I enhance my academic abilities, I also made friends with many of my coworkers. One of the friends I made was my coworker, Gio. Gio and I decided to co-facilitate a TLC (targeted learning community) together. TLC groups are something that the OWRC organizes to provide extra support for ESL (English as a second language) students. Every week, Gio and I met with ESL students to do extra reading, writing, and speaking practice. We even worked on professional development with our students through going over their LinkedIn profiles, practicing interviews, and reviewing their resumes. I am so grateful for my experience as a tutor and TLC facilitator at the OWRC and I only wish I could have worked there longer!
Above: My tutor profile on the OWRC website.