My Writing Center Experience

I utilized the Hofstra Writing Center two times during the course of this school year.  I was very sceptical and if it was not for the extra credit I don't know if I would have went on my own.  I found it to be indimidating to say the least, I went in as a bashful student, afraid that my work would be ripped to shreds.  I will also admit that knowing I would be tutored by students that were the same age as my daughters would be awkward at best.  With all that said, I can happily say that is was a good experience. I think the tutor that I had looked a bit nervous at first, I think she felt that she was tutoring her mom, but after a few minutes we got down to the business at hand.  The first appointment was to help me revise my first essay paper, I had ideas about how to do it and what direction to go in but I needed that support and advice to make the necessary changes. It was sort of a small pep rally for writing.  I was at that point that I felt very disappointed about my writing, not having written for over 25 years at least not formally but by the time I got to my second appointment I was in a better place about my writing.  My second session was harder as I went there to write my second essay about the Twelfth Night and thematic strands, and didn't have any ideas at all. I was really struggling with that essay, the tutor really had her work cut out for her as I could see it on her face that I wasn't getting it.  I felt bad, it wasn't her, it was me. I felt that I put up a wall and was so afraid of the subject matter that I couldn't absorb was the tutor was trying to convey.

I basically got ideas for my second essay and it was the launching platform to get me started, however in my revision for the first essay, we changed the position for some of my sentences. I was encouraged to move some of the ideas around to make the flow better and to create a more even tone throughout the essay.  I also removed a paragraph that we both felt really didn't belong, it went off topic and really didn't have anything to do with the rest of the essay.  I did correct alot of grammatical errors and the tutor helped me to better understand where to place commas and how not to make my sentences to long.

I believe that the writing center is a great resources for anyone who is any English class.  Having said that however you also get out of it, what you put into it. If you go in with a closed mind, like myself, you can not expect miracles.  I also felt that the second time I went, there were more people in the room and it was sort of distracting.  They may benefit by having some dividers to help block the tables without really closing anyone in.  Of course it could have been just me and the younger students may not be distracted by their surroundings like I was.  Overall it was a good experience and I would reccommend it to anyone that may need even just a pep talk about their writing, or any questions they may have.