"Without this opportunity, many of us would have nowhere to go. I really do believe that Eastern's summer worker program is one of the best things that Eastern does to support its students."
For Hannah Gerber ‘27, summer break is anything but boring. Instead of heading home after the spring semester, she and many other Eastern students stay on campus, spending the summer working at Eastern in exchange for housing, a paycheck, and, best of all, more time together.
As a Writing Assistant in the University's Writing Center, Hannah works with students on everything from brainstorming ideas to strengthening arguments and polishing citations.
"This is my second year working at the Writing Center over the summer and I have genuinely fallen in love.
"At the Writing Center I am available for any student to book an appointment with me (grad, FLEX, traditional undergrad) and they explain what they want help with on their written assignment. Sometimes it's brainstorming, sometimes citations, or embedding and analyzing quotes, but writing assistants are there for whatever the students need."
Summer may bring fewer tutoring appointments, but it also gives the Writing Center staff time to prepare for the busy academic year ahead. Through specialized training, they expand their skills so they're equipped to help students with a wider range of projects.
"When I am not working with students we have specialty training over the summer in resumes, cover letters, scholarship essays, and more so that when the semester starts we will be trained in more than just essays."
That preparation extends beyond training sessions. Hannah has spent the summer developing a social media plan for the Writing Center's Instagram account and helping organize workshops for the coming year, including a session on how to give a great presentation.
Just as meaningful as the work itself has been the community Hannah has found within the Writing Center. The mentorship and encouragement she has received from the staff have shaped the way she approaches every student who walks through the door.
"The team of students and staff, including Ruby Baker and Faith Croll, have really poured into our lives as students, caring about the whole person, and not just us as their employees, which empowers us to care about the students we tutor not just by helping them with their paper, but as their whole person."
For students like Hannah, Eastern's summer worker program offers far more than employment. It creates opportunities to grow professionally, build lasting friendships, and invest in a community that continues to invest in them.
"Working on Eastern's campus this summer at the Writing Center has provided me with the opportunity to work with my friends, while really being able to pour back into Eastern's community."