{"id":5505,"date":"2023-11-29T01:40:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T01:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningcommons.twu.ca\/?p=5505"},"modified":"2024-04-28T12:15:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-28T20:15:27","slug":"lydia-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/learningcommons\/2023\/11\/29\/lydia-roots\/","title":{"rendered":"Lydia Roots"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writing Tutoring as Ministry<\/h1>\n

Lydia Roots<\/h3>\n

December 11, 2020<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

The biggest thing I have learned while working at the Writing Centre is <\/span>that being a writing tutor is just another way to serve people and show them the love of God. God has blessed me\u00a0<\/span>with writing ability, and I\u00a0have the opportunity to\u00a0<\/span>use\u00a0<\/span>my<\/span>\u00a0skills to further his kingdom. Typically, people might imagine furthering the kingdom as doing outreach work\u00a0<\/span>or being a missionary, but God uses all people in all fields to minister to others.\u00a0<\/span>In my job, I meet with people who are in all kinds of places<\/span>\u00a0emotionally\u2014<\/span>whether they are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>stressed, depressed,\u00a0<\/span>or overwhelmed\u2014and\u00a0<\/span>as a writing tutor, I can help lift one\u00a0<\/span>of th<\/span>eir<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>burden<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0off their shoulders by helping them succeed in their courses.\u00a0<\/span>I once\u00a0met with\u00a0someone who\u00a0<\/span>broke down\u00a0into tears because they felt they could not handle th<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0assignment. I met with another person who\u00a0<\/span>was angry at their assumed inability to write an essay. And I met with another who admitted\u00a0<\/span>to me that they were dealing with depression. These three appointments stand out the\u00a0<\/span>most\u00a0among\u00a0the many that I have had.\u00a0<\/span>While one of these did not conclude on a good note, the other two<\/span>\u2014by the grace of God\u2014did.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In one of these <\/span>particular\u00a0<\/span>meetings, I arrived at the appointment\u00a0<\/span>not mentally prepared for what was to come. I was\u00a0<\/span>relatively calm, but when I joined the appointment and sensed the student\u2019s anger, I was unsure<\/span>\u00a0as to<\/span>\u00a0how to\u00a0<\/span>maintain calm control of the appointment.\u00a0<\/span>The student talked for a while about how they do not have any writing training and that\u00a0<\/span>they\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0embarrassed about it and have no idea how to do what the professor wanted.\u00a0<\/span>They\u00a0<\/span>even disagreed with the premises of the prompt.\u00a0<\/span>What this student\u00a0<\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0know was that they\u00a0<\/span>actually had\u00a0an innate writing ability and understanding of English grammar that they were unaware of. We made the smallest changes to\u00a0<\/span>their<\/span>\u00a0assignment, and I said,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re actually a lot better than you think you are.<\/span>\u00a0Look, we only needed to make these small changes.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>They<\/span>\u00a0w<\/span>ere<\/span>\u00a0surprised and encouraged.\u00a0<\/span>After working\u00a0<\/span>together\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>their<\/span>\u00a0assignment, I asked to\u00a0pray\u00a0with\u00a0<\/span>the student<\/span>, and\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0said yes. I prayed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that God would give\u00a0<\/span>them<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>strength<\/span>\u00a0and wisdom\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0would need to complete\u00a0<\/span>this degree. Afterward, we talked about God\u2019s goodness and provision in our lives<\/span>, and<\/span>, in the end,<\/span>\u00a0I felt like I had made a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>friend<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>To be honest<\/span>, I was having a bad day that day and talking with\u00a0<\/span>this student<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>totally changed my mood as well<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>I met with\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0student<\/span>\u00a0a few times after this first meeting<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0been a joy to see\u00a0<\/span>them<\/span>\u00a0quickly improving and growing to understand how academic writing works.\u00a0<\/span>Essentially, my role as a writing tutor extends beyond helping students with their essays.\u00a0<\/span>I am fortunate to be able to meet with all kinds of people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>be a tool for God\u2019s kingdom\u00a0<\/span>by bringing peace into student\u2019s lives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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