Considering that I am a student journalist who spends my time editing and proofreading articles well past midnight, I probably sound extremely biased in claiming that writing is an undervalued skill in today’s society. But, that probably would have been the last statement coming out of my mouth when I thought vocabulary and grammar tests were a waste of my time in elementary school.
I constantly questioned why no one had ever created a “correct” way to write. Why did I have to come up with my own style when William Shakespeare had already crafted one widely used by almost every advanced literature high school class in America?
Then, it clicked. I was rewatching “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” when the character, Professor Dumbledore stated, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.” At the time, it was exactly the advice I needed, and it continues to shape my mentality in every struggle I face.
That is when I began to realize that writing is involved in everything from the advertisements on YouTube to the apologies we craft when attempting to mend conflicts. So, why did it take so long for me to appreciate it?
Ever since I can remember, STEM subjects have always been more heavily promoted than English composition, causing my perception of writing to be negatively influenced. Answers like “a scientist” or “an engineer” to the cliche question of “What do you want to be when you’re older?” always seem to produce better reactions than a response such as “an author.” In addition, pursuing it at a more advanced level in high school and college is difficult considering that humanities subjects are given less funding compared to STEM-related programs, discouraging students from wanting to take on careers that involve heavy writing skills.
Yet, writing goes hand-in-hand with STEM. Whether it is the research published by scientists, manufacturing instructions communicated by mechanical engineers or reports presented by statisticians, it is everywhere.
Beyond a school and career setting, writing has other ways of impacting society in subtle ways. Similar to my experience, people often look forward to watching their favorite shows or movies after a long day at work. But, with social media centered around giving the actors publicity, it often undermines the impact of the screenwriting itself, which has the power to make people laugh and relieve stress or uneasiness caused by hectic schedules and long meetings.
The flexibility of writing is what makes it have such an effect on people – a quality that allows writers to express their creativity in unique ways. But, the simple word “writing” typically has a negative connotation associated with it because of the meticulous process of editing and rearranging sentences. Still, I believe it taught me the skill of discipline and allowed me to experience the satisfaction of coming up with the perfect adjective for a subject and the most powerful form of syntax to emphasize a sentence’s effect. Do not get me wrong –Spending hours editing my college personal statement over the last two months was not the most fun use of my time. However, taking critical feedback from my peers and mentors is what allowed me to express my individuality in a way I am extremely proud of.
Though writing has been undervalued for so long, it continues to influence people in incredibly impactful ways, leaving a lasting imprint on society.
