Tutoring: An act of service to the Lord

By Linnea Doughman

The presence of the Writing Center on Cedarville’s campus, like most writing centers, can haunt students with thoughts such as, “I know the tutor will think I am an awful writer” and “Why go to the Writing Center if every word I have written is going to be criticized and erased?”

Senior English major Rebecca Neely openly expressed the various ways the Writing Center is available to serve students, not censure every word that is written on a page. Neely emphasized that being a tutor is more than an outlet to help shape better writers; it is an opportunity to share her faith in Christ.

One of the first things Neely does as a tutor is greet every client with a smile. Greeting clients with a smile is important to Neely because she is representing the Writing Center as a friendly space, and she simultaneously desires to begin every meeting displaying Christ.

Neely voiced that being intentional with client interactions is an important part of her job as a tutor.

“I try to start every session off with basic questions like, ‘How is your day going? How is your semester going?’ just to show that I do care about [my client] as a person,” Neely said.

Nevertheless, being a tutor at the Writing Center means more than just greeting a client with a smile. Neely has learned that being a tutor is an act of service to the Lord. Her role as a tutor has affected her attitude as a person.

“I am coming into a meeting focused on the other person’s benefit,” Neely said.

One of Neely’s favorite sessions as a tutor was with a dual-enrolled high school student that had scheduled a meeting through the online appointment option. Her client asked for assistance in researching a paper. She had spent a previous semester learning how to properly research, and she felt well equipped to serve the student in the task of researching.

“It was a really sweet [meeting] because I think she was really encouraged by the end of the session,” Neely said. “She was really excited to learn, and I was happy to help.”

Being a tutor incorporates a balance of humility and consideration towards the client. Neely believes that her faith in Christ has led her to tutor with patience and focus on the progress a client is making as a writer, rather than any progress she is making as a tutor.

“I think the Writing Center is another way that I can learn how to put [my] faith into all the things that I am doing,” Neely said.

Linnea Doughman is a sophomore English major with a concentration in Editing and Publishing. In her spare time she loves writing creatively, going on strenuous hikes, capturing special moments through photography, and thrifting with friends.