"Waiting to Begin" AND "I'm No Sylvia Plath"

A favorite childhood author acting casual.
Guess Who?

Today was another no-show for our appointment. No one had scheduled for this time-slot, but the suspense is building, and I think the four of us (two writing consultants and two apprentices) are so itching for some actual work, which we’ve been preparing for, that if someone actually does come in they’ll be absolutely bombarded with our enthusiasm to help, or at least do something. It feels like a room of med-students antsy and waiting for a live subject to practice on.

Since there isn’t much action on the WC (Writing Center) front, I’ll discuss my other involvements in campus culture. I’ve signed up for the ESL (English as a Second Language), and I’m so excited even though it’s something I had no idea existed a few weeks ago. The goal of the program is to tutor staff members at the University in English, whose language skills may not be up to the levels and standards of most other employers. Since the University of Richmond is an excellent school, I suppose the most we have to offer anyone is schooling.

When I was drawing up a resume for summer internships that I mentioned in the last post, I realized just how interested I am in language/writing. ESL, my writing consultant apprenticeship, publications in Bufo: literary magazine, and a first prize in a history writing contest all found their way into my application. This scares me a little because I believe firmly that if I was ever a writer I’d go insane. Look at the movies: nothing good ever comes to them.

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

No Thanks.The lives of real famous writers aren’t much more promising either. Sylvia Plath stuck her head in an oven; Virginia Woolf drowned herself in a river, hardly encouraging. Good thing I’m in the Wellness health class theme career exploration. (No, that wasn’t sarcastic). I have a lot of career exploring to do if I do not want to end up in some lonely writer’s cottage in Wales teetering on the edge of a cliff.