Eye Opening Chicago Experience - Andrew Han

For the past 2 years in high school, I would always just glance at the Writing Center and think, "It doesn't look like that big of a deal", after always hearing about it around the school. I always assumed that the Writing Center was just a small place where West Springfield students could go to get help with their writing and never thought about whether other schools also had them or not. I did not realize how clueless and narrow minded I was until the trip to Chicago.

While attending the national writing conference in Chicago, I was amazed to see how large and prominent writing centers were at other high schools, and especially at colleges. It gave me a new outlook on tutoring and made me think, "Wow this really is a big deal". I never imagined that so many other people could be so enthusiastic about tutoring and have their own techniques, viewpoints of the identity of tutors, and other ideas or opinions on tutoring. In a way, I was comforted to know that so many other people around the nation tutor as well which made me feel less different compared to other students in my school that aren't tutors. I also left the conference more motivated to tutor, knowing that tutoring is so prominent around the nation and that it benefits students more than I originally thought.

Touring around Chicago was also an eye opening experience in itself, despite not being related to tutoring, but rather the history and culture of a city I had never visited before. Going through the art museum was perhaps not the most interesting for me compared to other aspects of the trip, but there were some unique and intriguing pieces of art that I found captivating. Walking through the Millennium Park and viewing the famous Sears Tower and the Waterview Tower were amazing experiences as well. I loved the show at the Comedy Sports Club and was astounded by the improvisation done by the performers. All these moments and experiences helped give me a new viewpoint of Chicago as well as an understanding of why it is so famous.

I am extremely glad to have gone on the trip to Chicago because I benefited from the national conference in many ways as a tutor and overall had a great time as a tourist.