From time to time we enjoy highlighting former structure and style students to showcase their achievements both academically and professionally. Students who learn this writing method are able to confidently use the skills they have gained and apply them to virtually any type of academic and work communication experiences. Today’s interviewee, Oliver Mauser, certainly demonstrates this. Learning how to write with structure and style beginning in his younger years, he has leveraged his training throughout his college years as well as in his fledgling professional career. Keep reading this blog post to learn more about him.
Hi, Oliver. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Ohio and lived there until I was eight, at which point my family of five (my parents, my older and younger siblings, and I) moved to Florida. I was homeschooled all the way through high school although I was a member of various homeschool co-op groups throughout my childhood. The summer before my eleventh grade year, I began dual enrollment at my local community college, St. Johns River State College. After a little over two years attending that college and while in my senior year of high school, I received a full-tuition academic scholarship to attend the University of North Florida, where I graduated early with a Bachelor's of Science in Communication (Advertising).
What do you do now?
I’m employed in the construction industry and have discovered that I really enjoy this type of work. I intend to make a career out of it and am excited about the future! In order to save money for a down payment on a house, I am currently living with my parents.
How old were you when you used IEW? What IEW courses did you take?
My first experience with IEW was with the Student Writing Intensive Level B*. I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I did that, but it was quite a while ago. From there my mom taught me using some history theme-based books. I know another one of the theme books she used was Rockets, Radar, and Robotics. In high school I completed The Elegant Essay, Windows to the World, Teaching the Classics, and Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons. These courses in particular really prepared me for college writing. In addition to all of the writing, I also worked through Fix It! Grammar, which was great preparation for my college communications coursework.
What was your favorite part of IEW?
I enjoyed getting creative with the assignments that IEW gave me. IEW taught me how to write clearly and effectively, and that has helped me throughout my personal and professional life.
Did you notice that IEW helped you in college? If so, how?
IEW basically carried me through college. Pretty much every class I ever took required me to write essays. Without the skills that IEW gave me, I would have floundered like a fish out of water. I consistently received good grades on all my written assignments, and those grades helped me pass many classes I otherwise would not have done well in. I also found myself frequently editing my college roommate’s essays because he knew I was a solid writer.
What type of writing do you most enjoy?
The writing I enjoy most revolves around prompts that ask an open-ended question, especially if it relates to something that is controversial. I like to explore deep topics, and I believe writing about them is educational not only for myself but hopefully also for anyone who happens to read what I write. I have a naturally inquisitive mind, so when I am given a question about a topic that's important but that I know comparatively little about, I tend to get excited and enjoy the research and source-finding process.
Do you have any plans for the future where writing and communicating are a central focus?
I don't have any specific plans. Maybe someday I'll write a book. The future is uncertain, but I know that the skills I learned from IEW will continue to benefit me anytime I want to write something.
Solid communication skills matter. In every profession, progress is best made when we are able to accurately communicate our ideas in our writing as well as in our speech. This is true not only in our business relationships but also in our personal ones. We want to thank Oliver for sharing his insights about IEW and how learning to write with structure and style has had a positive impact in his life. We wish him all the best as he continues to develop his career in the construction industry.
* The Student Writing Intensive has been discontinued. In its place is Structure and Style for Students, a 24-week video-based writing curriculum. To try the first three lessons for free, click here.
