Relax. Remember. Respect.

First of all, if you have been hired to work in the Writing Center, then believe in yourself. Claire does not hire tutors willy-nilly. She has confidence in you; have confidence in yourself.

Next. Take your grammar training, and your MLA, APA, documentation seriously. But don’t freak out. There will be plenty of on-the-job learning and discussion, even debate, about theses topics with your fellow tutors. If you are uncertain of a rule, remember that there will always be a bigger grammar geek who knows the answer. There are loads of reference materials around, but if you can’t find an answer, don’t be afraid to ask.

Keep an extra pen tucked in your folder. A mint or stick of gum doesn’t hurt, either.

Remember to get up, walk, stretch, get a drink, get your head together every once in awhile. You can’t help students if you are too foggy. If a session gets too intense, don’t be afraid to take a break or stop the session. Suggest continuing later.

Respect the student and her learning process. Recognize your own strengths. Relax. You’ve got this covered.