Praxis: A Writing Center Journal • Vol. 23, No. 1 (2025)

A Lifetime of Writing Center Work: Why I Still Love Tutoring After 28 Years

Roycelin Rogers DeLeon
Del Mar College
rdeleon@delmar.edu

The first time I walked into a writing center, I was not a tutor. I was a student, an adult learner entering college after twelve years away from the classroom. The decision to enroll had not been easy. Balancing family, work, and school was overwhelming, and I questioned whether I truly belonged in an academic setting. Writing, in particular, felt intimidating. I had always enjoyed writing, but academic writing seemed like an entirely different language. I spent hours staring at blank pages, second-guessing every word, unsure if my ideas were strong enough or if I was following the right format. When I finally walked into the writing center, I expected to be judged for what I did not know. Instead, I met a tutor who saw my potential. Rather than correcting every mistake, they guided me through my own thinking, helping me understand that writing was not about perfection but about process. That single tutoring session changed my perspective. I walked out of the writing center not just with a better essay, but with the confidence to keep pushing forward in my education. I never imagined that years later, I would sit on the other side of the tutoring table, working in the very same writing center that once helped me. Since that first visit, I have earned two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees, and am now a doctoral candidate.

Education has shaped my family’s story as well. All six of my sons have attended college, and some are still furthering their education. My older grandchildren are dual-enrollment students who already recognize the value of learning. Even after 28 years of tutoring, I have no plans for retirement. I continue working with students, many of whom are the same ages as my grandchildren. Watching them struggle, persist, and ultimately grow into stronger writers and thinkers reminds me why I love this work.

Writing centers do more than help students improve their essays. They build confidence and encourage students to see themselves as capable learners. I know this not only as a tutor but also as someone who has personally experienced that transformation. Many students arrive at the writing center convinced they are not good writers. Some have struggled for years and believe writing is a skill they will never master. Others think of it as an academic requirement they must complete, never realizing that writing is about much more than producing assignments. It is a tool for critical thinking, self-expression, and communication.

I have worked with students from all backgrounds, but I have always had a special connection with returning adult learners. One student, a mother balancing work, school, and family, walked into the writing center on the verge of tears over her first college essay. She apologized before I even had the chance to greet her, convinced her writing was not good enough. We took the assignment one step at a time, breaking it down into manageable tasks. Week by week, her confidence grew. By the end of the semester, she was not only writing stronger essays, but she was also encouraging her classmates to visit the writing center. Her story is one of many that remind me why writing centers matter. When students begin to see themselves as capable writers, they also begin to see themselves as capable learners. That shift in confidence often changes the way they approach their entire education.

Growth does not happen only for students. It also happens for tutors. Many of the tutors I have mentored began their work with the same doubts as the students they assisted. They wondered if they knew enough, if they could explain writing concepts clearly, or if they would be able to guide someone else’s learning. Over time, tutoring builds confidence just as it does for students. I have watched tutors transform from hesitant newcomers to thoughtful and skilled educators. Many have gone on to become teachers, professors, and leaders in higher education. Others have pursued careers in law, business, and public service, taking with them the communication and critical thinking skills they developed in the writing center. One former tutor shared that the most valuable lesson this work provides isn’t about grammar or essay structure but about the power of listening. Another told me that their experience in the writing center taught them patience and adaptability, skills they now use daily in their career in public service. Watching tutors develop into confident professionals is just as rewarding as seeing students grow in their writing abilities.

Higher education can feel overwhelming, especially for students who do not fit the traditional mold. Writing centers provide something invaluable: a space where students feel supported, heard, and encouraged. Unlike the classroom, where students may hesitate to ask questions, the writing center fosters collaboration and discussion. For many students, this space is the first place where they feel comfortable discussing their writing. It is where they realize that struggling with writing does not mean they are failing. Instead, it means they are learning. I remember that realization vividly from my own experience, and now, as a tutor, I get to pass that understanding on to others.

When I first started tutoring, students brought in printed drafts, and sessions were always conducted in person. Writing centers operated as quiet spaces where one-on-one conversations guided students through the revision process. Over the years, technology has transformed the way students write, revise, and collaborate. Online tutoring, digital collaboration tools, and artificial intelligence have introduced both challenges and opportunities. Some students now rely heavily on technology to assist with writing, while others struggle with the shift toward digital learning environments. Despite these changes, the fundamental purpose of tutoring remains the same. Students still need a space where they can develop their ideas, ask questions, and build confidence in their writing. Writing centers continue to provide that space, evolving with technology while remaining focused on student-centered learning.

After 28 years, people often ask why I still love tutoring. The answer is simple. I see myself in the students who visit the writing center. I remember what it felt like to question whether I was capable of succeeding in college. I remember the frustration of struggling with writing and the relief of sitting across from someone who saw my potential and helped me find my voice. Now, I have the privilege of being that person for others. I witness students grow into confident writers and thinkers. I mentor tutors who will go on to shape the next generation of learners. And I do it all in the very writing center that changed my own life years ago.

Writing centers will continue to evolve, but their mission will remain the same. They will always be places where students find support, develop confidence, and discover the power of their own voices. For those who are considering tutoring, my advice is to embrace the conversations, the challenges, and the small victories. Writing tutoring is not just a job. It is an opportunity to change lives, including your own. After nearly three decades, I am still on this journey with no plans to stop.

It is a journey worth taking.