I chose to become a technical writer because I saw how big an impact one instructor could have

on my life. I wanted other to experience what I had witnessed, inspiration and encouragement this
great would be infectious. Upon entry into UALR, I felt invisible. I was discouraged by the lack of
community and longed to seek the support that evaded me during my military enlistment. The bright
spot in my college career all began with my introduction Dr. Michael Kleine. This experience would
forever change my outlook on college and life in general.
Prior to entering the major of Professional and Technical Writing, I had not written in years. I
must admit, the five years that passed between high school and college concerned me. The most
valuable lesson Ive learned was to become a lifelong learner. The difference between a good teacher
and a great teacher lies in the desire to not only teach but to still remain willing to learn. Within my best
courses the instructor had a vested interest in learning about the students.
Through my time at UALR I learned that my greatest strength was authenticity. Using my story in
every element of the writing process is essential to my style. In my writing process I learned to see from
a unique perspective and become a conscious part of the audience. Never be afraid of the grind, and
strive to produce work that represents how hard I have struggled to become a competent technical
writer.
My curriculum was challenging and has been invaluable to my growth. The most important
improvement within the department has been the adoption of focused concentrations within
graduation requirements. The previous process of course selection allowed me to acquire knowledge
and neglect finding a niche and profitable combination of technical skills. I wish I had taken a greater
interest in becoming familiar with digital platforms and increased exposure to design elements that
enhance technical documents.
I believe that the capabilities are broad for employment for the technical writer. It is important
to find a balance between exposure to possibilities, and aligning your best skills with the desires of the
job market. The rhetoric department has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to leaders in their
fields and genres of technical writing. With so many well qualified and impressive instructors, its hard
to decide who is best suited to prepare me for a future that is fulfilling and allows me to thrive in the
field I enjoy.
My collection of writing samples begins with a document design project where I was able to
combine a service project and promotional material design. The mailer project required creation of a
project and learning to implement a usability test to evaluate our project designs. Introduction to
Google drive applications has been critical to my growth as a writer and designer. Dr. Williams has been
a great mentor for young designers. The introduction to Lucidpress, Pixlr, and Photopea has allowed me
to become a more versatile editor and designer.
Secondly, introduction to professor Freelands use of collaborative projects were great examples
of professional formatting and copyediting. The resume, cover letter, and foundation refusal letter were
all strengthened by the peer revision process. This introduction to group editing along with peer revision
experiences gave me confidence I needed to attempt my first major research project.

My final writing sample was my first venture into extensive research. The topic was very
personal and paralleled my own journey from military to civilian life. My research focused on identifying
factors that affected the success of veterans transitioning to the college environment.
After embarking on this difficult writing journey. I feel adequately prepared for my next chapter.
I desire to attend graduate school focusing on rhetoric and higher education. More than anything I feel
like it is my calling to inspire and impact students in the way Dr. Kleine opened my eyes to a whole new
world of possibility. Sometimes the hurdles in life create doubt and make you second guess, but it was
the reassuring words of Dr. Allison Holland that let me know that it is my journey and I was too close to
allow doubt to keep me from graduating.
Going to college is a possibility for nearly everyone now, but the psyche sometimes hinders an
individual from accepting that you are worthy of the dreams. I truly did not feel like I was in pursuit of
my dreams and changing my life. Having the support and encouragement of faculty made the difference
in never giving up. Special thanks to all my supporters and others who provided fuel and motivation to
never give up on myself and those who invested to see my dreams become a reality.

Sincerely,

Craig F. Hartaway II