by Matthew McCann – Aristocrat, semi-professional pugilist, Public Policy major at St. Petersburg College.
As we all know, classes with a written word requirement are an essential part of our education at St. Petersburg College. But let’s face it – we aren’t all English majors. We may be aware of the math tutoring in The Learning Commons, but did you know that you can get help with your writing assignments as well?

I took some time with Andrew Campbell, a student at SPC who is also a writing tutor in The Learning Commons here at the Seminole campus, to learn more about him and the tutoring available to students.

Andrew’s interest in writing came with his exposure to the subject in a series of short stories he wrote in sixth and seventh grade which were later published. In high school, he was introduced to many of the literary greats such as Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, and Steinbeck which would provided a foundation for his future literary interests. Ultimately, his time at SPC will help him on his path to USF, as well as his eventual goal of becoming an English major, transitioning later into a career as a teacher and author.

Andrew stated that his time as a tutor on this campus has been rewarding and certainly relates to his aspirations of becoming a teacher. He enjoys simply helping others reach their goals as well. By helping students, he has been able to hone his skills and find effective methods of teaching proper grammar and writing methods. When asked what are some common hurdles students faced when writing papers, Andrew answered that “grammar issues are the most frequent errors I encounter when assisting students.” Additionally, he stated that “texting has definitely affected how students write; many students simply usetext short-hand without being aware of doing so.” According to Andrew, the largest hurdle facing students is that they do not know they need help or where they can find it.

You can find Andrew in The Learning Commons (TL Building) right here on the Seminole campus on Monday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm & 5:30 – 8:30, Tuesday 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, and Wednesday/Thursday 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Drop in and take advantage of the knowledge he has.