So Long and Thanks

Almost exactly one year ago today, I said goodbye to the UTA Writing Center, which had been a hugely important part of my life for almost two years. I'd met some folks who have become hugely important friends, learned a lot about myself, and grew up a lot. It was a big deal for me to say goodbye to that place.

Five months later I was back, through something of a fluke in UTA's GTA system -- because one of my classes didn't take, I needed to work at the WC to supplement my work load and justify my paycheck. It was surreal, to think I was done with something like that, and then to go back. For the next four months, I worked at my new job, which was really my old job, and then worked over this summer break to supplement my income so I could afford to go to school this semester.

Today was my last day, and this really feels like the last one. Unless I return next summer -- unlikely, as I'm planning to do Upward Bound instead -- there isn't a likely scenario in which I go back and work there again. So: goodbye for good, Writing Center. I really will miss working there. I swear there isn't an easier job on the planet for someone like me. It's a lot like teaching, but you only have to know the student for 45 minutes, not a full semester. And the longer you do it, the more you see the patterns of thought, the easier and easier it becomes to diagnose an issue early and provide useful advice. It never got old, seeing that look on people's faces as they realized what they needed to change to improve their papers (it was a look I saw more and more the longer I worked there). It also never got old to get "repeat customers" who had demonstrably benefited from your advice.

Am I glad it's over? I am and I'm not. I'll miss working with the people -- Sam and Tra especially, both of whom were there from almost the beginning of the job -- but it's not like I'll never see them again (in fact I'll likely be seeing quite a lot of them both). I'll miss the rooms, even though I did most of my sessions at the front desk this summer. I'll miss the easy camaraderie, and getting to know the new hires.

But I'm also fairly ready to move on. In fact, as lovely as the past few months have been back there, I pretty much already did last August. Which is not to say I'm not always learning new things, having fun, and improving myself as a consultant, because all of that is still happening. But it is to say that I love teaching, and as close as the Writing Center could be sometimes, it's really not the same. I'm ready to get back to that in the Fall.

So, so long Writing Center, and thanks for all the fish. Among other things.