Senior Tributes. 6.22.17

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. Stay tuned for more of these tributes over the coming weeks.

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Caroline Casey
College Choice: Dartmouth College
Prospective Major: Public Policy, Public Health, or Journalism

​Almost as inseparable from the couch as Kate Landry was Caroline Casey. She loved to lounge on its stuffed cushions during tutorials, visiting with friends and basking in the glory of senior year. When she did get off the couch, it was to either refill her mug with Starbucks coffee or help a student with his or her paper. Caroline, with her calming voice and enthusiastic attitude, loved helping the freshmen with their papers because “they might be nervous” before she helps them “realize that they know the argument they want to make and [that] they just need to organize their thoughts on paper.” Throughout her three years at the Writing Center, Caroline has served as the event coordinator for the Writing Center during her junior year and Under the Oaks leader this year. Her experiences have taught her that the best way for new writing tutors to feel like they’re a part of the Writing Center is to “[not] be afraid to make the Writing Center your own space.” She elaborates, “Spend time in [the Writing Center] when you aren’t scheduled to work, write on the chalkboards if you find a quote you like, bring a book, find people you can talk about books with, get coffee, [and] bring donuts!”
Caroline, we appreciate your contributions to the Writing Center, all of the love and care and devotion you put into aiding and enlightening students—including freshmen, new Fellows, and 7th graders—and helping the Writing Center become a safe haven and resource for all. You are one of the students who has made “it what it is” because of your contributions from and beyond tutoring. Though you say it is you who feels “so lucky to have been a part of such as vibrant community of learning and writing,” I assure you, Caroline, that we are the ones who have benefitted from you.

​– Alyssa Macaluso

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Kaylin Chauvin
College Choice: Louisiana State University, Honors College 

​Prospective Major: Biology with a minor in drawing
It’s hard to believe that Kaylin Chauvin served as a writing fellow for only one semester.  In her short time on the staff, Kaylin’s impact was immeasurable.  Although she didn’t have an official leadership position, Kaylin added energy and humor into the Writing Center announcements, often incorporating them with her ever-present Troubadour submission requests.  During the last few months of school, she helped students with short stories and history papers.  “One session that I enjoyed the most was when I was tutoring three seventh-graders and I was hearing all of their creative short stories and the characters that they conjured,” Kaylin said. 
Kaylin also wrote a blog post for the Episcopal blog about the importance of the Writing Center and the writing community in the Upper School.  One of her favorite Writing Center memories revolves around redecorating the room this spring.  She repurposed a colorful banner from LAUNCH Fest as a ceiling decoration, and she also sponsored a photography contest to create a gallery wall with student photos by the couch.  The advice she would give to incoming fellows is to not be nervous when having an appointment.  She reminded them, “You got this!”  We are so glad she was able to join the staff this semester and will miss her vibrant, generous spirit next year!

​- Mrs. Julia Spaht

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