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Simran Kaur has always excelled at communicating.

The Writing Center at �鶹��ý, however, is helping her take her communication skills to the next level, setting her up for success in her dream career as a JAG officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Her first year on campus, Simran never considered utilizing the Writing Center, part of the Center for Student Success. As a liberal arts student, writing had always been her strong suit. �鶹��ý professors, however, either require or strongly encourage all their first-year students to check it out.

Simran’s tutoring experience proved eye-opening. The second set of eyes on her work strengthened her final product, and her tutor walked her through how to cite correctly using the different academic citation styles.

“It just took a huge burden off my shoulder,” she said. “And in general, it made me better at asking for help.”

A political science major with minors in pre-law and computer science, Simran became a Writing Center tutor to help her fellow students with the writing process.

Her mantra, she says, is to “help others as you have been helped.”

Through her Writing Center tutor training and work, she’s added a whole new set of skills to her tool kit.

“Being empathetic, learning how to mold your speech so that someone understands what you’re trying to convey, knowing how to encourage someone or help them when they are struggling, these are skills that I’ve learned that will be super helpful throughout my life.”

Simran firmly believes that the process of writing is an invaluable life skill—no matter your major.

“When I think about writing, I think about collecting your thoughts. We all have these thoughts and ideas swirling in our heads, and the process of writing is about organizing these thoughts and being able to communicate them effectively.”