Senior Tributes: From the Writing Center With Love

The Episcopal Writing Center is a special place. Fellows form lifelong bonds. In keeping with tradition, this year’s underclassmen wrote Senior Tributes highlighting the graduating fellows and the impact they’ve had on the program.  

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Elia Harper
Elon University
Major: Psychology and Education with a focus on Spanish
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Elia Harper always walked into the Writing Center with an infectious smile -- be it a genuine, radiating smile or one plastered on to mask her stress. Despite all of the strain of a busy senior year, she still greeted every Writing Center client with a warm greeting and open mind. Elia loved being a Writing Fellow because it offered an opportunity for her to help students in the Episcopal community. She also greatly valued how students would open up to her through their creative writing assignments. Through her gregarious nature and unmatched social flexibility, Elia was able to collaborate with any student under any circumstances. Elia considers one of her most memorable appointments to be one with a student who was drafting a paper that was due at midnight that same day. The student was behind in a few classes and needed some ideas on where to begin his essay. More importantly that student needed to decompress, expressing his frustration and stress. Elia was empathetic and it meant a lot for her to be able to help that student when he most needed it. Through all of her experience in the Writing Center, Elia feels more connected to the high school community as she worked with students from each grade level. Going forward, Elia hopes that Writing Fellows remember why they joined the program: to assist others. In her words, “We’re all Writing Fellows to help other people. It’s such a rewarding experience to be the person that someone looks to when they need help. The feeling of being a person who people can always come to for guidance is unlike anything else.” Elia, next year your absence will impact the Writing Center community. Your bright personality and positive disposition will be greatly missed.
​-- By Abby Johnson

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Michael Lee
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Michael Lee joined the Writing Center only at the beginning of his senior year but still made quite the impact on the Episcopal community through his work as a Writing Fellow. Michael is not only passionate about writing but enjoys helping others, which makes him a great asset to the Writing Center and a very understanding and helpful person to work with. Michael most enjoys tutoring creative writing, blog posts, or pieces about subjects he doesn’t know much about, which makes his sessions a learning experience for him as well as the writer he is tutoring. He remembers one particular session as really making an impact on him in his time in the Writing Center and being the best session he had all year. During that particular session, he felt that he connected with the student personally and not just academically. The advice Michael would give to tutors or those considering becoming a part of the Writing Center is to make people look at writing as not a chore but something they can actually enjoy. He says, “If you can get this to happen, the school and the Writing Center will be better off.” Michael’s passion and enthusiasm for writing will surely be missed in the Writing Center, but hopefully during his time as a Writing Fellow, he has impacted the school and shown people how great writing can be.
​-- By Macie Sentino

Wendy Wang
Emory University
Major: Undecided

"Cozy, friendly, and passionate" are three words Wendy Wang uses to describe the Writing Center. Wendy has always loved to write, so when the email about becoming a Writing Fellow appeared in her inbox, applying for the program was an easy decision. It was also a bonus that she received service hours while doing something she is passionate about. Describing how the Writing Center was a part her years at Episcopal, Wendy said, "The Writing Center did play an important role in my high school experience. I love writing and enjoy being called a Writing Fellow. I made friends with my clients. I became more confident and discovered my passion." When I heard her response, I realized that discovering your passion is why Episcopal gives us all of these opportunities, such as joining the Writing Center. Her favorite spot in the Writing Center is the desk and chairs by the printer, at which she studies and does her tutoring sessions. Wendy especially remembers a session with a seventh grader's short story. The story was very intriguing, but it needed work with character development; helping that student was one of her most fun experiences in the Writing Center. Wendy loves creative writing, but she enjoys helping people with all kinds of writing. Her strengths as a Writing Fellow are many, but I would say her greatest strength is showing rather than telling her clients how to tweak their papers through her series of questions. Wendy's most memorable moment in the Writing Center took place when she was a Freshman. She had just come to the United States, her English was not very good, and she was shy. Her tutor was so friendly and encouraging, and she inspired Wendy to become a Writing Fellow. Through her time in the program, Wendy grew less shy and more confident and outgoing. Her parting advice to other Fellows is to remember that clients are their friends, so it never hurts to have a small conversation before the session.
-- By Sydney Summerville

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