This was a gift given to me by a writer I worked with at the OWRC. We worked over the course of 3 months to help her craft her personal statement for grad school applications. I devoted a lot of time and energy into helping this student, and over the course of our sessions we really got to know each other. I loved being trusted with her story and passions, and helping her to convey herself through her personal statement. To me, this gift symbolizes that the work I put in with this student really made a difference in her life. Whenever I get discouraged about my work, I like to look at this picture and remind myself that the work I'm doing is impactful.
This is the self-evaluation I did for my first quarter working as a tutor at the speaking center. Over the course of the quarter, I learned a lot about coaching, and got to develop my abilities to give constructive feedback while also encouraging the speakers. Each session at the center was different, with every individual giving speeches about different topics important to them. I enjoyed listening to the passion in people's voices as they talked about causes important to them. I really felt like my role as a tutor was mostly to be an encouraging listener, and I loved when the speakers left with a clear sense of confidence that they didn't come into the center with initially.