During my time as a graduate student in the English Department at Oregon State University, I have taught seven sections of first-year composition classes as a graduate teaching assistant. As an undergraduate, I tutored a seventh grade student with learning disabilities and worked one on one with her in all of her subjects every day after school. I also have experience as a teaching assistant for two English professorsduring both my undergraduate and graduate degrees.
As as a tutor, teaching assistant, and composition instructor, I have learned that many students have a great deal of anxiety and fear about writing. I am dedicated, then, to meeting students where they are at in their writing. I have found that my strengths lie in listening to students, hearing what they struggle with, and then dedicating the time and patience to helping them improve their work. My goal as an instructor and tutor is to not only equip students with the skills they need to improve their writing and English but also to help them see that they do have something valuable to say and that they can make improvements. I have learned through my experiences that I am passionate about working with students because I greatly enjoy helping them gain confidence to become better writers, communicators, and learners.