Lisa is a class of 2019 graduate who earned an MA in English and a TESOL certification. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies in Germany, which she found useful in her transition to an English graduate program.
Lisa worked at the UCWbL from Autumn 2017 until Spring 2019 as a workshops team graduate assistant, peer-writing tutor, and receptionist. She still occasions DePaul, but now as an instructor rather than a student!
Current Career
So, where are you now? Where do you work having graduated?
“I currently work at different institutions, all of which are fantastic! First, I am so glad to still be a part of DePaul as an adjunct professor in the writing, rhetoric, and discourse department. In addition, I have recently begun working at the English Language Academy (ELA) run by DePaul as well. Moreover, I am teaching English composition and language classes at the College of Lake County.“
Do you enjoy your job so far?
“I love my jobs! I am so happy to keep working at institutions that promote the liberal arts and support their diverse student bodies in learning English as an additional language.”
What are some big challenges to adjusting to life post-graduation?
“I would say applying what I have learned in theory to actual real life scenarios. There are always challenges and unexpected factors that come along, and we need to be ready to deal with these quickly and efficiently.”
How do you balance teaching several classes a quarter? What are some of your biggest challenges and success?
“To be successful, I think time-management is the most crucial aspect of teaching several classes. A daily ‘to-do list’ is super helpful to not lose sight of what needs to get done. The biggest challenge is to find time for myself, whether it’s to relax, work out, or advance myself academically (reading, researching, presenting at conferences, etc).”
UCWbL Retrospective
How has your writing process changed since you left the UCWbL?
“In innumerable ways. Before the UCWbL, I was inclined to write my papers at the last minute, because I wanted to avoid re-reading my own ‘bad’ writing. The UCWbL helped me see writing as a process which benefits from feedback and revision. The collaborative environment at the UCWbL was amazing and showed me how much of a collaborative activity writing can be. We all benefit from other people’s viewpoints and feedback. I appreciate I was able to learn this in such a supportive, non-judgmental and welcoming environment.”
What is your best memory at the UCWbL?
“I really enjoyed the one-on-one interactions with writers, but I think my best memories are giving workshops with some of my peers. I loved providing a resource to students during their class time and helping them with topics such as citations or Digication. The instructors were always kind and appreciative, and it made us always feel like we had an impact on the students. Overall, I believe that a tutoring session can take a lot of pressure off the writer and help them advance in their academics. That alone is a great feeling.”
What skills developed at the UCWbL help you at your job?
“I would say that I am a much better communicator in both spoken and written modalities. I can also engage with students on a peer-to-peer level which helps create a meaningful and supportive environment. Additionally, I believe that I can provide feedback to my students in a more effective manner and respond to their individual needs.“
“From working in the writing center, I was able to comprehend the importance of giving my students an inclusive and well-written prompt which I discuss in class to provide time and space for questions and expectations. Lastly, I believe that I am able to value constructive feedback from my own coworkers much better and am more prone to work in a collaborative setting to provide my students with the best practices I can.”
What advice would you give to current UCWbLers, whether it be about writing, post-grad, or life in general?
“I think that the UCWbL offers more than ‘just a job’ and I recommend using this opportunity to engage with other UCWbL and DePaul events and activities to form lasting relationships.”
Lisa P. is one of many wonderful UCWbL alumni. If you know of any others who would be interested in an interview, please do not hesitate to contact Robert R. on slack.