Tutor of the Week: Alexa Foor

Our next Tutor of the Week is Alexa Foor, a senior with a major in English and minors in Creative Writing and Gender Studies.

Here is what Alex had to say about her time at the Writing Center:

Alexa speaking at the Queer Monologues last semester
(Photo credit: The Valley Vanguard)

"I will be completing my fourth semester at the Writing Center before graduating this May. Outside of regular tutoring, I’ve also presented at the East Central Writing Center Association conference as well as at the Michigan Writing Center Association conference and I’ve tutored at the Saginaw Community Writing Center as a facilitator of the creative writing workshops. I’ve had the opportunity to attend the Bear River Writer’s Retreat at Camp Michigania last June, where I participated in Thomas Lynch’s memoir writing workshop. I then co-facilitated a memoir writing workshop in the Fall for members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. I believe that writing is important because it allows people to connect with one another in communities that bind people together through both their similarities and differences."

Alexa believes that tutoring writing is important because it allows her to build connections with people that are different than her. She writes: "Language is ever-evolving and changing, and tutoring at the Writing Center allows me to constantly learn and evolve along with it. I’ve learned a lot about myself in my work at the Writing Center and I’ve been able to grow both professionally and personally in the time that I’ve been here."

When she's not in the Writing Center, Alexa is also heavily involved in other activities both on- and off-campus: "Outside of the Writing Center, I’m also a member of the Sexuality and Gender Spectrum Alliance at SVSU and I’m a victim advocate at the Sexual Assault Center in Saginaw. I’m also the poetry editor of Cardinal Sins, SVSU’s literature and art publication. After graduation, I plan on attending the University of Oregon’s Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy PhD program with a focal department in English."

Tutor of the Week: Madison Martin

Our next Tutor of the Week is Madison Martin, a senior with double majors in Literature and Creative Writing and a minor in Theatre.

Madison Martin

Here is what Madison had to say about her work in the Writing Center:

"My freshman year, ever since I heard that there was a writing center on campus, I knew I had to work there. Cut to seven semesters later, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Working at the Writing Center has given me so much confidence in my own writing, as well as my abilities to help people. When I think back to how I was in my first semester at the Writing Center versus now, I can definitely see my growth and I wouldn’t be able to experience that growth without working here. Besides writing and tutoring, I have been able to develop myself professionally. I’ve presented at four conferences, one being an International conference, sharing my research on students’ perceptions of our center. In addition to these conferences, I also had the opportunity to work at our Community Writing Centers running the creative writing groups. This is by far one of my favorite opportunities I’ve had because I was able combine my tutoring skills with my creative writing skills, which is something I’m not able to do often in sessions."

She added that her beliefs about writing are part of what drive her work here at the Writing Center, as well as her passion in her chosen field of study: "Writing, to me, is the most freeing form of expression. You can write just for yourself, or you can write for others. The possibilities are endless, from song lyrics to books to essays. I feel so honored that, through the Writing Center, I’m able to help people express themselves and share their voices and their writing with me."

When Madison isn't in the Writing Center she spends her time working, studying, and participating in a number of different groups on campus: "When I’m not at the Writing Center, I spend most of my time at Student Life where I also work. I am also part of Cardinal Sins, Cardinal Readers, and the Sexuality and Gender Spectrum Alliance. The few hours a week that I’m not on campus, I avoid going outside and I basically inhale Netflix and Youtube. Currently I’m gearing up for the next Avengers movie because I am also a huge nerd, in every sense of the word. Hopefully after graduating I’ll be able to binge more Netflix, since I’m not sure what I want to do when I “grow up.” Once I do grow up, I hope my career has to do with helping people since it seems like that’s something I’ve grown into through the years."

Tutor of the Week: Renee Okenka

Our next Tutor of the Week is Renee Okenka, a secondary education student with a concentration in English and a minor in English as a second language.

Here is what she had to say about her time at the Writing Center:

Renee (right) hanging out with a friend.

"This is my fourth and final semester working at the Writing Center, however I cannot say enough how much this experience has and will continue to impact me. The Writing Center has not only taught me strategies to work with all types and levels of writers, it has also taught me how to be a better writer. In addition, the Writing Center has presented me with so many valuable opportunities, such as traveling to Japan and tutoring at our sister university in Tokushima, Japan. From that experience, I was able to present at different conferences about research that I co-conducted while there. I have been able to travel to a regional and international conference to present findings to others in the field across the nation. The conferences I attended not only helped develop my public speaking skills, they also broadened my view on what writing centers are and can be."

Renee also spoke to us about her beliefs about writing:

"I believe that writing is a skill and a powerful tool to communicate. It takes practice and commitment and good writing doesn’t happen overnight. In my four years at SVSU, my writing process has evolved and become better, but is still not perfect. My years at the Writing Center have not only allowed me to help others with their writing, but have improved mine as well through me teaching the concepts and being surrounded by writing every day. Writing also doesn’t have to just be essays, it can take any form and can be used to spread ideas around the world."

In addition to her work at the Writing Center, Renee is also highly involved in other activities on campus:

"I’m a person who really enjoys staying busy. I also work as a tour guide on campus and a Resident in the First Year Suites. Although most of my time right now is being taken up by fieldwork, I like to relax by going outside, travelling, binge-watching Netflix, accumulating plants and then accidentally killing them, and continuously learning new things. After I graduate, I hope to move to a larger city somewhere and teach English. As of right now, I have no idea where that will be, but that excites me rather than scares me."