A Moving Email

On the third day of this gray, dreary start to 2025, I received an unexpected thoughtful and well-written email from Teagan, one of my past writing students whom I worked with continually for five years, from when she was in fourth grade up until the summer before her freshman year in high school. (She is now a junior in high school.)

These days, it seems like the never-ending flow of incoming and outgoing emails that we sort through day after day primarily contains emails related to solving problems, so it was such a breath of fresh air to receive an email like Teagan’s that created sunshine and brightness even when the sun outside my office was masked by rain clouds.

I loved reading that Teagan has “begun to realize how crucial a strong organizational foundation is as [her] writing advances” and that my “guidance has not only strengthened [her] skills as a writer but also nurtured a love for writing and self-confidence [she] hadn’t known before.” I also love that she consistently reads my monthly newsletter, The Art of Writing.

Thank you, Teagan, for taking the time to send me that email and letting me know that I have positively impacted you—I deeply appreciate your heartfelt words, and I am looking forward to helping you create stellar college admission writing!

Hi Christina, 

Happy New Year! I hope you and Jacob are doing well and have had a nice holiday season. 

This year, as I navigate my junior year and my AP Language class, I've grown increasingly appreciative of all of the time you spent with me to refine my writing. Throughout my sophomore and junior years, I've begun to realize how crucial a strong organizational foundation is as my writing advances and the time you invested in teaching me these skills is evident in my current writing. Your guidance has not only strengthened my skills as a writer but also nurtured a love for writing and a self-confidence I hadn't known before. 

I continue to follow your monthly publication, The Art of Writing, and found December's edition, Exceptional Writing Takes Time, particularly resonant. As I will be applying to colleges next fall, I am looking to start my writing process early and have begun to evaluate the prompts and brainstorm ideas. That said, I would truly value your insight and support throughout my application process if your schedule allows. Please let me know if you would have time to work with me; I would deeply appreciate it. 

Best, 

Teagan

~ Christina Caputo

Founder & Owner of ★ W O R D S