(or Writing Cover Letters and Resumes)

As part of one of my Communications courses, students are required to write cover letters and resumes.  Some of them have not written one before and find the task intimidating.  Some find it downright discouraging – at first.   

I remember one student coming to me, after class, one day.  He was angry and upset.  He had tried working on his resume the night before and felt like he hadn’t done anything worth mentioning.  He had worked in a factory before coming to college.  In high school, he had not had the best academic record.

After we spent about 45 minutes together, he was beaming.  I was able to show him how he had been developing a number of skills prior to arriving at the College.  Imagine working on an assembly line without the ability to perform a task in a timely manner or to contribute to a team?  How long would an employee with poor interpersonal or communication skills last in a job that requires a team effort in order to meet production standards and deadlines?  At the College, he had been writing reports, doing group projects and presentations, listening and analyzing lectures, notes, and texts. 

After going through the process, this gentleman felt empowered.  He was bolstered up with the confidence that he had valuable experience and skills.  I asked him to look over his notes.  Then I asked him, “Would you want this guy working for you?”

Absolutely, he would!

 Sometimes, it is a matter of changing the lens through which we see ourselves.  

 Enjoy!  PEARL Literacy

 Sometimes I wish I had a recording device in my brain, other than my memory.  As I live through, witness, or react to clips of life, I think, “I’ll write about that.”  I write the most incredible things – in my head.  I cannot tell you how much acclaim my writing – in my head – has received by now!  It is really great stuff.  

My challenge is not thinking of things to write.  It is thinking to write it all down.

What is that an indicator of?  Ultimately, when I study this phenomenon, it tells me it is time to create space for actually recording all this writing that is taking place in my head.  When I do pause to consider what’s going on, I realize that in place of producing my own empowering accounts of real life, I am absorbed in at least one or two or three other things.

So, I am challenging myself to write.  Writing is something I enjoy.  Writing is something I do well.  Writing is something I support others in.  Writing is something I should be doing – not just in my head.

Not too long ago, as part of LEAP, we were asked to write about our perfect day.  In my perfect world, one thing I would do is host a writing group.  People would gather in a comfortable space I had created.  We would share our stories.  There would be a vibrant exchange as we supported one another and offered constructive criticism.  We would be a community of writers.

What is preventing that from happening?  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  Except everything else that I “have to get done”.   

And so? 

My ideas are endless.  There are many things I want to do.  So many types of workshops I want to offer.

Alors?

And so… 

I am doing it.  I am taking the leap!  At Alexandria Women Entrepreneurs, the other day, I announced I will be offering a Business Bits and Blitz Writing Workshop.  

Business Bits and Blitz Writing Workshop?

Yes, this will be the opportunity to create a Bit about an individual’s business – where participants create a one-liner that best describes the highlights about the business and the services offered.  The Blitz will be a one-page description of the owners’ businesses.  

Remembering that PEARL is an acronym for Producing Empowering Accounts of Real Life, I believe that PEARL Literacy’s Bits and Blitz workshops will do a few things.  1)  Through the process of writing – from brainstorming, writing, editing, and creating a final recording, business owners will hone in on what makes their business stand out.  2) Committing to paper (or the laptop) what may have only been written in their heads, will give participants tangible tools to use when writing proposals, networking, or promoting their services.

In order to meet my own challenge surrounding recording the writing I am doing in my head, I am aiming to post a blog entry every week.  Once I have finished teaching my Communications classes at the College, I will increase the amount of writing I do myself. 

PEARL Literacy – Writing Right Now!

I invite you to visit Eva’s blog.  

http://www.65redroses.com/ ~ Eva’s Blog about her experiences and life with cystic fibrosis.

http://www.65redroses.com/  ~ The documentary that has resulted from Eva’s blog.  It brings attention to the tremendous need, the generosity, and anxiety surrounding organ donation.

Without a doubt, Eva shows the power of the written word.

PEARL, by the way, stands for Producing Empowering Accounts of Real Life.  It is also inspired by my Grandmother’s name…Pearl.  

What is meant by Producing Empowering Accounts of Real Life?  

As an English teacher, I have seen students transform an experience  or relationship through writing.  One of my former students wrote about her fractious relationship with her mother.  Through developing this particular story, I think the student learned as much as she shared.  What came out was that her single mom had become both her father and mother.  There was so much conflict between the two of them, though, that she was not able to express how much she valued her mother until we did this project.  At our class’ book launch, her mother could not read the story.  However, she was moved beyond words and shed many tears when she read the story at home.  Suddenly, she had tangible evidence that her daughter appreciated her and understood how much this mother was giving to the daughter.  She proudly showed my student’s writing to others.  The difficulties did not end, but the relationship certainly shifted.

This is only one example of how I have been privileged to enter into my students’ personal lives through their writing.  

Leaving the high school environment, I felt I wanted to continue working with writing.  

And so….this is it…PEARL Literacy.

Well, that is just an introduction.  Our LEAP meeting is closing.  Once again, I’ll be the last to leave!!

Enjoy!