During my time so far at ThinkWriteSpeak, I have seen students grow from writing hesitantly to using the written word to communicate who they are, what they feel, and what they’ve experienced. It’s been incredibly rewarding seeing students gradually learn that writing isn’t about writing the perfect, correct sentence the first time: writing is instead about expressing ourselves clearly, then editing and improving our prose until we’re happy with it.

I’ve also been lucky enough to choose the reading passages for our writing classes, which has meant introducing students to some of my favorite authors, short stories, books, articles, and poems. I love seeing how students respond to something they’ve never experienced, helping them find a new favorite book to read, or guiding them through a difficult but rewarding piece of writing. On the other side, I have also learned about my students’ favorite books or series. It is wonderful to hear about their perspectives on books I’ve read or discover new books from their recommendations.

However, my favorite part has been learning from my students about the experiences, objects, and people that they cherish. Writing is, of course, a form of communication, and it means so much to me when a student uses his or her writing to show me exactly who they are. I love hearing about their vacations, their favorite toys, their annoying sibling, or their favorite memories with their parents. I love reading about a student’s favorite park bench in Nanjing, about an embarassing experience in a Shanghai mall, or a visit to an Australian beach that they will never forget. It’s a constant, wonderful reminder that our students are thoughtful, unique people, still stretching their wings, still discovering the world around them.