I sat on the bench in my high school locker room unlacing my cleats after soccer practice. Amidst the chatter from the other girls, I heard my phone buzz and saw the screen light up. It was a text from my brother, a freshman at Cedarville University.
“Cameron,” the text read. “I found the perfect job for you!”
Attached, my brother screenshotted a notice from Cedarville’s Writing Center. By my sophomore year, I had already planned on attending Cedarville and majoring in Professional Writing and Information Design (PWID) to pursue a career in editing. My future was planned, and I was ready for college. After reading my brother’s text, however, a new avenue opened. I was going to be a Writing Center tutor.
When my freshman year finally came, I trained to become a tutor, and, this year, I accepted a position at the Writing Center.
Along with many of my PWID classmates, I have taken an on-campus job that will prepare me for my future career. Not only does Cedarville and the PWID program prepare students academically for their future careers, but they provide numerous opportunities to develop their talents and gain real-world experience in their chosen fields.
Multiple editing opportunities exist across campus. Two seniors help as editors for Channels, Cedarville’s online journal of undergraduate research. They work with authors and conduct basic line editing. As a Writing Center tutor, a senior and I help students structure papers, organize their thoughts, and help with any grammatical issues. The role of head off-campus editor for Cedars, Cedarville’s online newspaper and print magazine is filled by one of our juniors. By coordinating stories, approving ideas, and editing articles, he is able to sharpen his editorial talent and gain real-world experience.
For those interested in journalistic writing, Cedars offers a multitude of opportunities. Three of PWID’s juniors are able to conduct interviews, research topics, and craft articles. From start to finish, they are able to shape a compelling article and see it published. Strategic Communications, Cedarville’s department for internal and external promotion through copywriting and media, hired two of our juniors and one senior to write articles for the Parent Prep blog and the Parent Connect newsletter. Reaching directly to a community outside of Cedarville, they are able to guide, instruct and clarify information for parents and students alike.
In the same way, Cedarville’s Public Relations Office also offers three of our sophomores and two of our seniors the opportunity to exercise their interest in PR writing and write journalistically. Involved from start to finish, they pitch story ideas, research content, interview any number of people on and off campus, and write articles. Working with editors, they craft articles that spotlight Cedarville. Not only are these articles published by Cedarville, but they are also often picked up by outside companies and published on an assortment of platforms such as K-Love.
Even in the IT Department, PWID makes its mark. Two of our juniors work as technical writers. Using their writing talents, they are able to structure and clarify technically complicated language and create articles. They are able to work alongside Cedarville’s IT students and help write information that is helpful and easily understood.
Many PWID students take their writing talents to social media. One of our juniors manages Cedarville’s weekly chapel live streams and creates social media posts for the university. Tapping into both her writing and design talents, she is able to design posts that are both eye catching and informative.
PWID, along with its focus on writing and editing, encompasses design. Two of our sophomores work with Cedars to organize page layout. With a basic understanding of the word count, number of pictures, and title, they organize where pictures will fall, breakout quotes appear, and titles are located. Cedarville’s yearbook committee also employs one of our sophomores and one of our seniors to create informational posters, edit photos, and design pages.
In almost every nook and cranny of Cedarville, you can find a PWID student using their talents. No matter what your specific interest is, it is easy to find a job that fits your preferences and allows you the opportunity to hone your skills and try your hand at what our professors teach.
During my junior year of high school, I tried to have my life figured out. God, in His great mercy, has humored my plans and helped me achieve my goals, blessing me beyond what I have ever asked for or deserve. For many of us in the PWID major, we have taken on-campus jobs that provide opportunities to develop our talents and apply what our professors have taught us. We are able to dip our toes into the world of words and design and find the special niche God has planned for us. Found on every corner of campus, PWID related jobs are everywhere. All you have to do is apply.