As a tutor at the University of Maine Writing Center, I emphasize a collaborative approach to learning that involves both tutor and tutee in a process of conversation, metacommentary, and an interrogation of common writing conventions. University writing centers are in the unique position of giving students — both tutors and tutees — a space to consider the craft of writing outside of the traditional classroom setting. Thus, students have the opportunity to reflect on their writing and the expectations surrounding that writing in an equal, informal, and welcoming environment. As a tutor, I aim in helping the student to refine their thoughts, hone their clarity, and enhance their relationship to writing itself. In helping students to improve towards these ends, I hope to assist their integration into the larger discourse communities that exist within the university and, ultimately, into the “conversation of mankind."