Senior Tributes 07.18.17

​As a send-off for their peers in the Writing Center, students in the Honors Composition class composed Senior Tributes for each of the graduating Writing Fellows.  The tributes feature the seniors’ favorite Writing Center memories as well as their advice for new Writing Fellows in the Upper School.  The tributes were originally featured on the Writing Center’s Instagram account (@episcopalbrwc), but we thought you’d enjoy seeing them here. 

John Harris
College Choice: Louisiana State University, Honors College
Prospective Major: Economics

John Harris worked in the Writing Center for two years, and became a key piece of the writing fellow community. Through his unique, easy-going, and approachable personality, John successfully managed writing sessions with many students across all grade levels. He helped with Literacy Narratives, short stories, and literary analyses, but particularly remembers a session with a younger student who was truly invested in making his paper the best it could be. John described this experience as a, “two way street,” which made the appointment much easier and much more successful for both parties.

One of the most memorable parts of the Writing Center for John was his help with the seventh graders’ short stories this year. He really enjoyed working in the in-class workshop with some of the seventh graders and watching them take the lead. Through his two years as a writing fellow, John learned the importance of remembering that “it is their paper, not yours.” We would like to thank you for your light-hearted, easy-going, and fun-loving nature that made everyone’s day brighter.

​- David Whitehurst

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Kirby Phares
College Choice: Wellesley College
Prospective Major: Mathematics

Graduated senior Kirby Phares began her career at the Writing Center as a junior. She hit the ground running contributing to the writing community at Episcopal hosting a “Writing on Tests” writing workshop and helping with this year’s gratitude grams. The helpful personality and willingness to tutor younger students that brought Kirby into the community led her to conduct many productive sessions. Some of her favorites include those with 7th grade short story writers with their “vivid young imaginations.”

Kirby’s parting words for future writing fellows are, “Don’t be afraid of older students. You probably know what you are talking about.” This air of confidence followed Kirby everywhere she went and established her reputation in the Writing Center as the person who always asked questions she wanted to ask, even if there was no one willing to answer them.

​– Taner Morgan

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Madison Ruston
College Choice: Louisiana State University, Honors College
Prospective Major: Biological Engineering

Madison Ruston became an integral part of the writing center during her three years of service. She was always ready to help when called upon, and she played an incredibly important role in helping the 7th graders finish their short stories this spring, especially when staffing was short and there were many clients. Madison has tutored students across all grade levels with many kinds of composition, such as English writing, history writing, and creative writing. She is particularly fond of a session she did as a junior with an eager sophomore student, in which she learned that not every session with a stranger needs to be awkward.

​While Madison is unable to recall one specific memory of the Writing Center that stands out to her, she does enjoy the infallible sense of community that the WC creates. Throughout her years as a writing fellow, Madison has learned that it is fine for a tutor to "stray from the script,” and that it is "important to let the session happen a bit more organically.” We would like to thank you for your friendly, determined, and caring nature that made a difference in your community both in and out of the Writing Center. 

​- David Whitehurst

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