Kayelyn Jett

What?

 

“Writing is really just editing!” When I was a Business Communication Consultant (BCC) at the Mays Business School Communication Lab, this is a phrase I used often to reassure and motivate my clients. To me, it’s incredibly encouraging to know the secret to writing effectively does not lie in writing itself, but rather persistent editing.  This mantra allows room for error and free expression in writing. Otherwise, the constant worry of how a sentence will sound or where the comma goes traps the best ideas inside. Another service the Communication Lab offers is portfolio consultations. Portfolio Consultants (PCs) focus on delving deeper into experiences and helping their clients pull out the most important pieces of information to draw attention to in their portfolios. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the scope of these words of wisdom are not bound to the Communication Lab in either role.

 

So What? 

 

The idea of editing and continually improving, I realized, applies to our lives both professionally and personally. Regarding my internships, my mentors have always told me to take note of the parts of the internship which energize me and parts of the position which do not resonate as well with me. I liken this process to editing because it involves many of the same concepts. I view all of my experiences as important and valuable towards finding the place where I can add the most value in the future. Ultimately, focusing on that which really resonates with you and speaks to who you are is going to lead you to the best path; however, you have to allow yourself to learn from failures or disappointments to discover your best fit.

 

Now What?

 

In my position as a BCC, I really enjoyed learning how to interact with my clients and aid them in editing their papers, resumes, thoughts, and personal lives and the position helped me take a lighter approach to my life. This approach to life has been inspired by the mission of the Communication Lab to strengthen other's professional voices through constant improvement and a touch of editing.