We write to make ourselves understood to others, whether that is in personal statements for next-school applications, essays in English or History classes, emails to an employer, or texts to a friend about plans for the afternoon.

Sure, writing conveys thoughts. But what about especially significant pieces of writing, like personal statements for next-school applications? In these moments — and actually in all moments, but it’s simplest to see here — engaging deeply in the writing process actually shows us what we think. We write so that we ourselves can understand what we think, to paraphrase Flannery O’Connor.

Think about that for a second: writing isn’t explaining who you are; it is finding out who you are in the process of explaining yourself. That makes an essay not just some insipid exercise in hoop-jumping-through — or what an online AI engine could spit out. It offers a moment of self-discovery, a sharing of one’s inimitable voice with the world. It gives a student agency in a process that can otherwise make you feel powerless. At Rees Advising, I believe that students derive lasting strength from writing well in these spotlight moments. I also believe that a strong, authentic voice stands out, to these students’ great benefit.

As all my students know, I believe words matter. Let me help you make your words matter, too.