To the Writing Center Staff of 2020-2021,

When I wrote a message of gratitude to last year’s tutors, I thought that was going to be such a unique set of circumstances, that we’d be back to “normal” soon enough, but this year turned out to demand even more flexibility and patience.

We did it though. We learned how to discuss writing over video chat, how to work a new scheduling system (and how to navigate that system when it didn’t want to work with us), how to keep students interested even when they were all “zoomed out” for the day, how to accommodate all types of classes and writers, and so much more. Through all of these changes, you remained focused and unflappable. You provided support and consistency when there wasn’t too much of that to go around. You stayed the course and helped a lot of writers in the process.

This program would not work without you. I am grateful every day that you choose to wake up early and stay late all while being ready to talk writing with students of all levels of skill and confidence. Every time I think about that, I feel better about the state of the world: if these young people can keep working and helping, we’re going to be okay.

Thank you for everything, and special congratulations to the Class of 2021!