I had a wonderful English teacher my sophomore year of high school. Although we didn’t always appreciate it, her expectations for us as writers were sky high—organization, clarity, voice, grammar and syntax needed to be near perfect. Comma splices, dangling modifiers, and subjects that didn’t agree with their verbs did not amuse Mrs. Petersen. Her red pen could scare the writing out of many students, but that wasn’t the case with me. I learned so much from her and fell in love with writing because of the grammar, the usage, the mechanics, and the language. I aimed for that perfect essay, returned to me with no red whatsoever splashed on the pages. I coveted earning an A from Mrs. Petersen. When she called me in for a conference at the end of that year to tell me I was a good writer, I almost cried. I carried those words of encouragement throughout college and my career as an English teacher. Then and now, I write because of Mrs. Petersen.
I’ve never forgotten how intimidating writing assignments can be. The purpose for writing might seem unclear; the directions might lack specificity; the genre might be unfamiliar. All these uncertainties can discourage students from picking up that pen or opening that laptop. As a teacher, I recognized the many obstacles facing students when given a new writing assignment. In order to alleviate anxiety and encourage writing, I wrote along with my students. Whether doing a writing demo on a smart board or facilitating a small group at a conference table, I let my struggles and triumphs show as I worked through my process. Most of my students appreciated this approach and to this day send me updates from colleges and careers celebrating how they use writing in their lives. Nothing makes me happier than knowing they have carried their learning into their adult lives. Then and now, I write because of my students.
I’ve heard all the excuses in the world to avoid writing—from students and from me as well. I don’t have time. I don’t know what to write about. I’m not good at writing. Now that I’m retired, most of those excuses are just silly. I do have a blog, but it’s quite undeveloped. I post a few articles from time to time, but I’m seldom thrilled with the final product. Until my retirement, I relied on the old excuses and just let the blog amble along. Not anymore. I have time. I have tons to write about. I can write. Developing my blog is now my number one goal for this new year, this new decade. I enjoy writing, and I’m so grateful to finally have time to focus on topics of my choice.
I still hear Mrs. Petersen’s encouraging words, and so I write for her even now. I hold tight in my heart those students and as they find their way in their new lives, and I write for them. And now, finally, I can say I write because of me.
