THINK TANK Student Employee Spotlight Series: Mateo Rivera

Mateo was a Writing Center Tutor who was a first-gen graduate from the University of Arizona in 2022 with a degree in Psychology and Creative Studies with a minor in Africana Studies. Mateo is currently living in Oregon, working as a Training and Technical Assistance Analyst in the Office of Procurement Equity for the state of Oregon. They live there with their partner and two cats and miss the Tucson food scene every day.

Mateo shared their experience and valuable insights from working in the Writing Center and how it’s positively impacted them in the years since they graduated.

Valuable work experience

Being a few years post-graduation, Mateo has a number of examples of how their experience working at THINK TANK has played a pivotal role in their career development: “I think having that writing center experience, that was something that I highlighted in all three of the interviews for [my current role] and pretty much every job interview that I had up until that point. Because it's just such a valuable skill to be able to explain things to someone in a way that they understand.”

One crucial area Mateo is grateful for was their opportunity to develop the skills of giving and receiving feedback, especially with something as personal as writing: “I feel like I just got into a whole new mindset around writing to where I could both give and receive feedback in a way that was direct but not critical. I learned how to take feedback and not take it personally, but separate myself from my writing in a way, even though writing is inherently vulnerable.”

Support and personal growth

Mateo’s experience working in the Writing Center gave them the confidence and perspective that they carry with them to this day. “I just really loved the job,” they explained. “It’s to date still probably my favorite job that I've ever had.”

Mateo described how their role at the Writing Center is present in their professional and personal life, beyond their own improved writing skills: “I felt like I became a better writer. I still use those skills all the time. My partner is going back to grad school [and] is asking me to review her work and really values my feedback.”

Mateo also reflected on the unconditional support they received from their supervisors over the years, and how that has been truly beneficial. “[They were] very accessible managers,” they said.  “I think having that helps me learn what I need as an employee from my managers … like what works for me and this is what I need in order to succeed.”

“It’s to date still probably my favorite job that I've ever had.”

Legacy lives on

Mateo’s mark on the Writing Center lives on, as one of the literature reviews they did for their major coursework and presented at the Rocky Mountain Writing Center Association 2023 conference has been incorporated into the tutor training curriculum. Mateo described how their  literature review, titled “Queering the Writing Center: The Necessity of Homespace,” connected “to Bell Hook's concept of home place, like a space that is safe, but also challenges you to go out and be better or a difference maker in the world.” Leah Bowshier, manager of the Writing Center, commented that Mateo's research has been folded into the training the tutors receive.

Advocating from afar

Although Mateo is living in Oregon, they are still promoting the Writing Center. When U of A students who are siblings of his college friends ask him to review their work, Mateo tells them, “Yes, absolutely, I will look at this, [but] I still recommend that you go to the Writing Center because even if you're afraid, there is something so valuable about going either in Zoom or in person. And being able to verbally process and explain like, ‘This is what I'm trying to say,’ and having someone say to you like, ‘Okay, I understand this is what you're trying to say. Here's what I got out of this.”  Mateo went on to add, “That experience and having that resource, like that free resource is just invaluable.”

Want to learn more about the THINK TANK Writing Center or are you a student that wants to become a writing tutor? Learn more at: writingcenter.arizona.edu