Social Work in the Writing Center
May 7, 2025
Heavyn Smith | Writing Center Tutor
When I tell people that I work in the Writing Center, I am always asked “Oh, so you’re an English Major?” While I am studying Humanities, the truth is that I am a Social Work major. The next question I often get is “What business do you, a non- English major, have working in the writing lab?” My answer to this is that social work is everywhere! To better explain, I will provide a few scenarios where I, as well as my co-workers, have practiced social work in the Writing Center.
Scenario 1:
It is a client’s first time visiting the Writing Center. They are very nervous to have their writing reviewed. As they walk in, they are greeted with a room full of warm smiles. Their tutor makes light conversation with them and provides an overview for how the session will go. The tutee’s anxiety hopefully eases and, shortly after, the appointment is filled with little laughs and excitement to continue writing. In social work, interpersonal skills play a vital role in making the client feel safe and open to sharing what they need help with. We see in this scenario that the tutor was practicing social work through their commitment to making the client feel comfortable and welcome.
Scenario 2:
A client comes in with their Philosophy paper. During the appointment, the tutor realizes that the tutee needs help with the content of the paper rather than the structure. To best help the client, the tutor asks, “Did you know that Xavier has philosophy tutors?” Surprised, the client responds, “No, I never knew that. How can I get an appointment with them?” The tutor then directs them to where they can make an appointment online. Feeling empowered, the client makes an appointment and ideally leaves their current one with satisfaction. Another key aspect of social work is connecting individuals with resources. Here, we saw how the tutor located the need and then connected the person with the necessary resources beyond the Writing Center’s own expertise. That is social work!
In conclusion, social work is all around. We just have to open our eyes to see it! Social work can be found in our day-to-day activities, relationships, and jobs. Even though I'm not yet a licensed social worker, I have been able to practice my social work skills as a Writing Center tutor. In the upcoming summer and fall semester, I am starting an internship in the social work field. Thanks to my experiences as a Writing Center tutor, I will be even more prepared for my internship. Now, I can enter the “real world” feeling more prepared because of the experiences I’ve had supporting my fellow students. While they worked to become the best writers they could be, I started the process of becoming the best social worker I could be.
