By Devanshi Gupta
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I am pretty sure most of us have had our nerves bundled before coming in for a tutoring session. Most of us who have experienced strict teachers and tutors at any point in our life would boil it down to just one thing. You go into every session either “knowing the answer” or throughout the class you worry about “getting it right”.
As a freshman, I stood in front of the Boucke building one sunny afternoon. After a lot of self-convincing, I had left the HUB ready to go into the Penn State Learning Center and get my essay reviewed. As an international student taking English 15, a rhetoric and composition class, I was nervous about submitting my first paper. I knew getting my essay reviewed was important for my grade. Given how enthusiastic my professor was about the Writing Center, I knew going there would be helpful and that it had to be done, but man was it hard. What if my grammar is all wrong? What if I didn’t use the right commas and apostrophes? What if my essay isn’t understandable? My reasons to turn back seemed pretty valid. After a good fifteen minutes, I finally stepped in. Moving through the corridor and entering the room seemed nothing different from a horror movie. But as soon as one of the tutors looked up at me and said, “Hi! “Welcome to the Penn State Learning Center, are you here for a scheduled appointment?” All my fear faded away.
Me, an international student – for whom English isn’t a first, second, or even a third language – I became enchanted with the center. Though I initially dreaded even entering the Boucke building, I ended up applying for the English 5 course and applied to become a tutor the next semester.
When I think back to my time in the Boucke building as a student, I recall countless moments spent eagerly learning at those round tables. Now, as a tutor, I sometimes wonder what made me keep going back. I finally realized why I was drawn to the writing center: The Art of Tutoring.
This notion first blossomed when I was a student in English 5.
For an hour every Friday, I found myself in that room, where my tutor and I would collaboratively paint on a blank canvas of knowledge. Much like a child lost in imaginative play – envisioning themselves as a superhero or a princess in a grand castle – each stroke of guidance and learning added a new hue. Together, they created a vibrant tapestry of understanding and growth. I found myself thinking about how artists and tutors both choose their ideal tools so carefully. Artists spend days trying to find their new medium – it can be clay, wood, paper, anything. Much like them, I have seen my fellow tutors select their tools and colors too. With carefully chosen words and approaches, they tend to the students’ needs and learning styles. Just as an artist pours their heart and soul into every one of their creations, tutors at Learning Center embody empathy, understanding, and passion for each of their tutorials.
Another similarity I noticed was the emotion evoked within me. I have never left the center in a foul mood or disheartened, neither as a tutor nor as a tutee. They say that some artistic pursuits can bring out deep seated emotions in us. From Paul Cezanne’s “Sorrow,” which has allowed many to work through their grief, to Van Gogh’s “Sunflower,” that has created a sense of optimism in people, artists and their creations tap into our emotions. After every session, I had a new hope and optimism. I would go in some days tired and exhausted but, by the end of it, I would remember just how magical the center was. If I was dragging my feet through those corridors, I would exit with a spring in my step. This made me understand that tutoring is not just about imparting knowledge but also instilling confidence and encouraging creativity. Tutors encourage students to think outside the box and explore new ideas, much like an artist pushing their boundaries.
Basically, what I am trying to say in this extremely long and complicated monologue is that tutors are not teachers. They are “acting teachers”-What is at stake is not merely intellectual, but psychological. It is not only grammar, spelling, and word limits that tutors tend to, they also inspire, excite, and fire the imagination. An acting teacher does not expect each of their students’ performances to be Oscar, -Tony, Emmy, or Obie worthy. In fact, they never judge like the movie critics do. They simply help individual learners discover their raw abilities and to develop study habits that allow them to connect themselves to their work.
One could have gone into the Writing Center at Penn State Learning merely to better their grade. But in the end, I think every visitor at the center realizes it is not about the paper, it is about the connection made, the barriers broken, the new doors of creativity opened, and the potential one realizes. The “art” created in that tutorial is not the polished assignment, the real masterpiece is the collaboration, growth and confidence gained.
As I continue my own journey, I carry these lessons and reminders with me. With this piece, I hope to inspire others to see it too. Additionally, I think that all tutors out there deserve thanks for being artists who shape our academic and personal growth. And, for the students who are ready to embark on this journey and embrace the process, go for it. Every step forward is a brushstroke in your masterpiece, you won’t regret it.
About the Author
Devanshi Gupta is a second-year student at Penn State, majoring in Computer Science. She began tutoring at the Penn State Writing Center in 2024 and brings a unique perspective as an international student whose first language isn’t English. Her approach to tutoring is inspired by her own experience as a tutee, where she discovered the art of collaboration and confidence-building. Devanshi sees tutoring as an opportunity to guide students in unlocking their potential, much like an artist carefully crafting a masterpiece.
Devanshi emphasizes empathy and collaboration in her tutoring, drawing from her own growth through tutoring sessions. She aims to help students not only improve their writing but also build confidence and creativity. For her, a successful session is about more than a polished paper—it’s about fostering connection, confidence, and learning. Devanshi hopes to inspire students to view their academic journey as a canvas, with each step a brushstroke toward their masterpiece.