Tuesday, November 19, 2019

A Few More Tutors to Meet, Part 5

Baking & Writing - some of my favorite things!
Sarah
Greetings and salutations! My name is Sarah, and I am an instructional consultant at the Stone Writing Center. In 2013, I graduated from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, and in 2016, I graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Master of Arts in Art History. In terms of consultations, my areas of expertise include argumentative essays, academic research, and descriptive language. One thing I enjoy regarding writing is that entire worlds can be created by just a sequence of words. Words are used every day, and so many take them for granted.


Most people do not know that I am a skilled artist. I can paint in oils, acrylics, and watercolors. I can draw in graphite, ink, and charcoal. I am knowledgeable in a diverse range of design styles, such as space/shape harmony, wire construction, and graphic design. In addition to two-dimensional art, I can execute several forms of three-dimensional art. I can sculpt in a variety of methods including clay, wax, metal, and wood. I am also trained in printmaking, specifically woodcuts, linocuts, etchings, lithography, and monotypes. Furthermore, I am well-versed in the art of ceramics, otherwise known as “functional art.” I can assemble tumblers, bowls, goblets, pitchers, and coffee mugs. My studio concentration was photography. My strength is digital photography, but I have the ability to engage in darkroom photography, which includes cyanotypes, silver nitrates, and gum bichromates. Art history was always my focus, even when I studied studio art. I do, however, consider myself an artist before anything because I have been drawing and painting since I was four years old. I knew I loved to create art before I knew I loved to write and long before I knew I loved to research the history of art.  

Danyela
My name is Danyela, and I’ve been a writing consultant for more than 3 years. My education includes a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry with a double-major in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in English from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). I also earned a Master of Arts in English from TAMU-CC. Thanks to my interdisciplinary training, I have presented research on STEM writers, and other related subjects in medical humanities, at both local and out-of-state conferences. My areas of expertise include literary analyses, scientific writing, MLA and APA documentation styles, and research processes. 
Timed writing!

My favorite thing about writing is that anyone and everyone can get better at it with practice! If I could tell my younger-student-self anything, it would be just that. You will encounter challenges that you will be unsure about tackling. Rather than imagining the worst-case scenarios, try imagining the best! You’ll find you are more capable than you think. 

My sassy maltipoo, Wendy, keeps me company when I write, and the faces she makes absolutely crack me up. My favorite writing tool is the timer on my phone. I find it helpful to time both writing and break times to limit distractions and stay on task. When it’s time for a break, I love watching The Office. In fact, I can easily identify episodes based on any quote. Come visit with me at Stone and see!

Chris
My name is Chris, and I have a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin. My area of expertise is communication. My favorite thing about writing is that it is always there. In a lot of cases, writing is can be helpful because you can always refer to it. For example, if you have instructions for an assignment, it is very beneficial to have those instructions in writing so you can always refer to them. When people are verbally told instructions, they tend to forget details really quickly.
I like playing basketball.


An early experience where I learned language had power was when I was a kid in California. Growing up in San Diego and frequently being in Los Angeles exposed me to countless different languages. When you get around a group of people that all speak another language and you cannot understand anything that is being said, you tend to feel like an outsider. Because of this, I picked up different phrases and expressions in Ethiopian, Spanish, Korean, etc.
Getting ready to write.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Part 4 of Meet the SWC Tutors!


This is me and the one that keeps me busy!
Caroline
My name is Caroline, and I used to work as an on-campus Instructional Consultant. I now work remotely for Stone Writing Center Online. I have a BA in English from Ole Miss and my MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland.  My master's focused in poetry, so that is my favorite genre of writing. However, I enjoy helping students with ALL types of writing. It’s so fun to play with language. If I could tell my younger student self anything, it would be to take more diverse class electives. I know a business course or two would’ve helped me in “real life.”


How I write
I learned at a young age that words hold incredible power. All through my schooling, we had to memorize poetry or Bible verses. Some of the passages gave me feelings I did not have the emotional language for yet, but I knew that those words and passages were important to me and many people.

Something few people know I am good at: I am good at assembling furniture and doing general handyman housework. I attribute most of this to moving so many times in adulthood. I had to break down and reassemble lots of furniture along the way!


Hi!
Brittany
My mother loved Alvin and the Chipmunks, so she named me after the Chipette, Brittany. I learned that language--including names--had power at a young age. My mom fell ill when I was a child, and my name served as one of my only connections to her. The name, Brittany, symbolizes my mother’s love, and I will always cherish this gift she gave me. Language and writing continue to shape me as I achieve my life goals. I graduated in the summer of 2018 with a master’s in public history from Texas State University, and I consider myself an expert in historical research and writing. Using these skills, I am able to help students with primary source research and using an active voice in their writing. Although I consider myself a decent writer, my favorite part of the writing process is brainstorming. I love coming up with fantastical ideas and pushing my analysis skills to their limits. When it comes to writing, I think it is important not to feel confined. If it makes sense to me, I can figure out a way to convey that meaning to someone else in writing and so can everyone else, which is a beautiful thing.
My favorites!
Jackie
My name is Jacqueline, and I absolutely love my job as an Instructional Consultant at the Stone Writing Center. I obtained a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in English from TAMU-CC in December 2012. I am currently working on a Master of Arts in English with a concentration in Non-Fiction Creative Writing. 

Raised in a Spanish-speaking household, I quickly learned that language had power the moment I set foot in the classroom filled with children who spoke only English. I attended private school, so at the time, there was no support staff to help guide me as I learned to speak English. My best friends in school consisted of a dictionary, a thesaurus, an encyclopedia, my pink fluffy pen, and my notebook. I am grateful for this experience because I not only learned a new language, but I also gained a love of learning, research, and writing. 
Reading and Writing!

Writing is a relaxing tool that gives me the ability to express my inner thoughts and creative ideas. The writing process encourages a path of thinking and expanding on your thoughts and ideas. There are no limits to writing; it allows a writer the ability to spark their imagination and create unique content. 
I enjoy working with students in all areas of writing, but my areas of expertise are in essay organization and journalism. I believe that a well-organized essay is not only visually appealing, but also allows the writer to connect with the reader in a logical manner. As a side job, I am a contributing writer for both The Bend magazine and Inspire Coastal Bend Magazine, where organization is paramount in the work I produce. I look forward to working with all our students and inspiring their creative minds to shine through their writing. Happy Writing!

Monday, November 4, 2019

The SWC Tutors, Part 3

Alyssa

My name is Alyssa, and I have a bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University – Kingsville. My areas of expertise are literary analysis and MLA formatting/citations. I’ve never been very good at math, but MLA citations are like a formula to me. I plug in the right information, and out pops a fully-formed citation. It’s as close to being a mathematician as I’ll ever get. I also have a deep-seated love for books and analyzing every last ounce out of them. Don’t get me started.
I love that writing can take my imperfect thoughts and verbalizations and turn them into something poetic. I talk fast, and writing forces me to slow down. On the flip side, I love when I read someone else’s writing and one sentence floors me. I’ll stop and take a second to really absorb what I just read and then read it again. Words are so powerful. I wish I could tell my younger self to stop fighting against what I knew I wanted to do. I went through a couple of majors before I settled on English. This was mostly because of people around me telling me that I needed a “practical” career path. I didn’t know how practical the English discipline would be. Don’t let anyone dissuade you from what you love.
My bakery

At one point, a few years ago, I considered opening a bakery. I wanted to call it The Cupcake Library and have cupcakes named after different books and characters. This was a way of combining my love of reading and baked goods. I still bake a lot, but my bakery never made it past the planning stage. I dreamed of having magical Harry Potter cupcakes and serious Mr. Rochester ones. Maybe someday!




Howdy!
Rylie
Howdy, y’all. Rylie here! Now that I’ve gotten my obligatory Aggie greeting out of the way, I can tell you that I graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station with a bachelor’s degree in English. I am currently halfway through obtaining my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing through Emerson College’s online program.

My area of expertise is definitely in Creative Writing, and the part of the writing process that I enjoy the most is getting started. The feeling of staring at a blank page that so many people dread is actually one I relish. I know it sounds crazy, but the possibilities of a blank canvas are endless. Who knows where my mind will go? At times, I’m just along for the ride!
My favorite things

My favorite things about writing have to be getting to express my creativity and helping people to see things differently. Ever since I was little, I’ve had a huge imagination. It’s gotten the better of me at times, via nightmares and daydreaming, but it’s also gotten me through a lot, like insomnia and anxiety over school. Whenever I’m stressed, I write myself into a different world. Writing novels means that I get to invite people in to see what I’ve created and if I manage to introduce them to some new ideas or views along the way, even better!

I wish Younger Me could’ve gotten the advice to join clubs early and get very involved. Once I found my favorite club, I had a stress-free environment with many friends; both of which helped me to do better in school. Though we’re now spread throughout the United States, we keep in constant contact and meet up every now and then. 


Ethan 

My name is Ethan, and writing has always had a special appeal to me. I am a firm believer that, as Margaret Atwood said, “A word after a word after a word is power."

Having been a voracious reader since childhood, I understood the power of words early on. Language has the power to inform, to persuade, and to transport us to different times and places. The ability to harness that power through the written form is part of what makes writing so appealing to me. Being able to pass along what I have learned as a student and a writer is just icing on the cake.

Though I’ve always been passionate about reading and writing, if I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self to read and write more. After all, there is no such thing as too many books, and there is always something new to write about. As I try to explain to new students, good writing takes lots and lots of practice, and I am always striving to become better at it.

As an undergraduate, I started out as a science major. However, my affinity for reading and writing quickly caused me to change majors, and I wound up completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. I am proficient in general academic writing and research methods, but, as a history student, I will always be partial to historical research and writing and liberal arts topics in general.

In addition to reading and writing, I have a few other hobbies. I am an avid outdoorsman and regularly go fishing and hunting. I also enjoy watching cooking shows and doing my best to replicate (with varying degrees of success) the various dishes I see on TV. 

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