I write because a kind old professor showed me how. #Education #Growth #Brave

Love is shown more in deeds than in words. ~ Ignatius of Loyola #quote

Love is shown more in deeds than in words. ~ Ignatius of Loyola #quote

The nagging sense of being an academic fraud was a part of my soul since childhood. In the small, poor schools I attended, I reasoned that it was easy to be labeled smart.  As the first person in my family to attend college, even though I did well I lacked confidence because I knew I was missing something.  It wasn’t until I was in my Master of Public Administration program that an old professor pulled me aside and said, “You haven’t been taught how to write, have you?”  My face flashed red and fighting back tears I simply replied, “No.”  He asked if I would like to learn how to write an essay and that it would take an hour.  An hour!  I jumped at the opportunity.

Quickly, writing became a task to master, a confidence booster, and a soul healer all in one neat and organized academic paper.  That is where I found joy in writing persuasively.  So while I shy away from calling myself a writer, I can’t deny that as a blogger, I write!  And while I know I don’t write very well compared to those whose primary passion is writing, I write well enough to make a persuasive case for my primary passion, the high value of family life.

I’ve passed down to my children what that good ol’ prof taught me about writing.  My oldest is an official writer with a degree in Journalism and the heart of a poet.  My second child transforms his writing into engaging and persuasive presentations.  My third child creates beautiful stories in spite of challenges.  And my eight year old, well, he’s likely drawing pictures of an epic battle when he’s supposed to be writing, but that’s OK for now.  Confidence and skill in writing will be his too because our family values writing and sees it as a basic tool for a happy life.

So thank you, Jason, for the Challenge – Most Influential “Writing Moment”. And thank you, Professor R. for seeing my suffering, reaching out in kindness, and giving me and my children the precious gift of writing.  Rest in peace, dear sir.

Do you self-identify as a writer?  If not, why not?  Does writing make you happy?  Do tell 🙂

Happy writing ~~~~~~~~ Angie Mc

34 thoughts on “I write because a kind old professor showed me how. #Education #Growth #Brave”

  1. Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
    I think that you handled being approached in that manner great. Many people would not have been able to swallow their pride I fear. Thanks for sharing and taking part in the challenge! -OM
    Note: Comments disabled here, please comment on their blog.

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    • Thank you for the opportunity, reblog and reply, Jason! I actually cried while remembering and writing this, happy grateful tears. You are right, it isn’t easy to swallow one’s pride, but for me it’s harder to continue suffering in confusion. Thanks for the encouragement 🙂

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    • Oh my, thank you for the compliment and the suggestion! I will think about it and see if I can translate it into a post. And I’m very glad to meet you, Ana, and I look forward to reading your blog 🙂

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  3. I had a similar experience to you. I have always been quite smart but I was married too young, to a man threatened by women who are intelligent. He told me I was stupid on a daily basis and eventually I believed him. It changed my life for the worse and I just accepted that I’d never achieve anything and it was not worth trying anything. When he and I divorced I met a man who is now my husband, and he continually tells me how smart I am. He pushed me to realise my dream and go to university. I experienced so much anxiety because I still felt stupid. After writing my first uni essay, which had great content but terrible format, my history professor pulled me aside and showed me the formula of how to structure a good academic essay. That was one of the most helpful things I’ve ever been taught. Now I have two university degrees and I am doing two Master degrees (I couldn’t decide which one to do so I am doing both). I still struggle with confidence and my ex husband’s voice rings in my ears every time I think about trying something new. However, my loving husband who believes in me, and my uni Professor who took the time to teach me something so simple, but effective, are the voices that I choose to listen to. Thanks for your story.

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    • How wonderful to connect via similar positive encounters with a professor and learning the joy of writing! And good for you to continue in your studies. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your story. I look forward to reading your blog 🙂

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  4. I do self-identify as a writer, though many would argue validly against my use of the title. I love it dear and deep, but have so precious little time and so many other pressing things weighing on me, so when I *do* have time, I’ve no spark of creativity.

    I, too, would love for you to post what your professor shared with you. What a boon to the Internet and so many struggling students it would be! You could even – *gasp!* – charge for the information! 🙂

    Have a blessed and wonderful Resurrection Sunday, Angie. God bless you all.

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    • Oh, Dane, you are so encouraging! I really will think about it and hope that I can translate it onto a blog post. Honestly, I don’t know if I can do the ol’ professor justice. But I will try 🙂 And, I do love your writing, very relatable even when I don’t know the content (your job related stuff.) Keep writing!

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  6. You’re very lucky to have had such a teacher with an interest in helping you… and his interest has certainly served you well. 🙂
    I do consider myself a writer – it consumes me day and night. I don’t even really understand why. I suppose I must have been born to it, somehow.
    Thanks for sharing your experience, and your talent for writing, with the world, Angie! 🙂

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  7. Hello there Angie, without even knowing it, that professor helped you a lot… Sometimes we do come across people for a certain relevant reason. I am sure this is one of those cases.
    Best wishes and Happy Easter for you and yours, Aquileana 🙂

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    • Aquileana, you are so right. Isn’t wonderful to have people who reach out to you in your time of need? I will be forever grateful to this dear man. And a very blessed Easter to you, friend 🙂

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  8. I agree with anaelrich, I’d like to know what secrets the professor shared. My children were educated with a combination of public and home-schooling. Whether in a class with 26 others, or around our own kitchen table as a family, reading and writing were always central focus.

    In answer to your question, I am a writer whose muse is having a rough awakening after a long slumber. Menopause knocked her clean out. *LOL* More than menopause, but that’s another story all together.

    I enjoyed the read. Your words are well woven.

    W

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    • So glad to meet you, Wendi! What’s funny is that there were no tricks or tips from my professor just straight forward outlining and organizing. He was able to look at my paper and *see* what I meant and help me to rewrite it in a disciplined manner. I home educate my children, too, and we are privileged to be able to really wrestle with words…to take the time we need to improve. Love it!

      I look forward to reading more from you at your blog 🙂

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  9. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us. We all cross paths for a reason and hopefully exchange something good as we go about our individual journey. Yes, I love to write and create something with all those words inside.
    I appreciate your writings of family life. Great to see it spread throughout the family. Have a wonderful Easter Sunday.
    Syl

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  11. I can relate to the situation that you mentioned about your schooling. It happens. It has happened to me. I was the smartest kid at my school. And it was in the University when I realized I was lacking many basics.

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  12. Writing like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I just think your words reek love and a grateful awareness of how short and precious life really is! I see it in your face and I’m sure you know the Chinese say you can see the life of the person in their face! I pretty much agree and again yours shows a wonderful beautiful life to me.
    I was some what surprised by the almost tears in your words but again showing passion and your personal journey to the best you will be. So I began to understand the face and its refection and sit back and smile and finally say, “Awesome”. Aren’t Mothers magnificent? You are indeed a Mother and a teacher of life skills and I admire you for sharing such intimate and lovely experiences with me included and I thank you for that…. claudy

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    • Oh. My. Goodness. Claudy, I am flattered by your kind words and more than that, I am amazed that you can *see* me through my writing. I do “reek love” and have a “grateful awareness of how short and precious life really is” and I have learned much (often the hard way) and want to share my truth to the best of my abilities. “Mother and a teacher of life skills”; that’s me to a T 🙂 And connecting with you and your creative and passionate heart is a privilege. Oh how my artistic friends enrich my life! Thank you, again, for connecting and I look forward to being enriched by what you share. Sending my very best to you and yours ❤ ~ Angie Mc

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  13. What a sweet and loving homage to the man who taught you about writing, Angie. 🙂 He would be proud, and honored, I’m sure.

    I do kind of self-identify as a writer, but I’m not a storyteller. I used to long to write novels but eventually realized I have no talent for that. I do seem to be able to condense things though, so perhaps I’m more of a reporter type. A Joe Friday reporter type, lol.

    Happy Resurrection Sunday! *hugs* ❤

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