That's the power we all have when we set words down on paper, no matter the situation. The assignment isn’t a matter of expressing what the canon of education wants us to think, to feel, it’s an opportunity to express oneself individually, and independently. A writing assignment of any kind is a practice in the art of expressing one’s individuality, and to do it in a way that will be understood by others. This is an all important skill, the most important, and toughest, most illusive aspect of being a human being, in my opinion. And writing, reading, speaking a language, is the way we can express our individual consciousness, our humanity, and not just to each other, but down through the generations as well. Language connects us with the minds of people that lived thousands of years ago, in places that are now far gone into the thralls of history and time. Separated by distance, and time, only language, the stories of our ancestors, is what makes up our history, is how each and every one of us fits into the larger picture, and also what we can learn from in order to drive ourselves forward. 

As Kurt Vonnegut so eloquently put it, “We Americans are governed under a unique Constitution, which allows us to write whatever we please without fear of punishment. So the most meaningful aspect of our styles, which is what we choose to write about, is utterly unlimited.” I don’t think it is hyperbolic to keep in mind that while it is our right and one that we uniquely enjoy in our culture to say what we wish, it’s also intimidating to realize the notion of the endless possibilities that still exist, in terms of what can still be created in any written art form. Here's something else the great Kurt Vonnegut said: "The practice of art isn't to make a living. It's to make your soul grow." I believe that, too. 

And this is precisely where a good tutor, a good educator comes in. There is no right way to write something others will find incredible, and more importantly, there is no correct way to express the things that are important to us. We just have to go ahead and express those things. That task is on us as individuals, and it is hard work. Good writing is always hard work, because a piece of writing will only ever be perceived as “good” if it’s true. Though this task is difficult, and time-consuming, the reward of expressing oneself, of creating, is truly unique in its multifaceted importance to the development of our intellect and sensibilities as individuals. 

My goal, as I hope is also what all students of free writing strive for, is to continue to celebrate our great tradition of freely setting down words and ideas on paper, and that idea-making itself is always a creative, and necessary entity in the human experience. While not every topic, or issue about the world is interesting to each one of us, anything we have to say is worth the work and time to express in a way that’s understood by others. Though not everything we say will be interesting to everyone, there are undoubtedly others out there who will find what each one of us has in ourselves to share interesting, too, and perhaps, if we're lucky, our souls will grow. And that is the main thing we have to keep reminding ourselves, as educators, tutors, writers, and as thinkers, as well.