Convocation Speech Seeing The Invisible By Traci Gourdine Summary

As a successful writer and professor of English, Traci Gourdine expresses the significance of “being seen” and having the confidence from your mentors in “Convocation Speech: Seeing the Invisible,” by sharing stories of dear friends and her experience as well. The passage that I believe is best considered as her thesis is, “Before I can teach I must see the individual before me. Too many have been told they cannot achieve, that they are weak and hopeless with math, science, reading or writing. That the best they can do is hide or feign competence. I’m not saying that I have to be a social worker or a therapist in order to teach. I’m simply saying that there is an innate common need within all of us to be seen, truly seen as individual with
talents just waiting to be unleashed and appreciated.” Although this passage falls towards the end of the essay, it provides a clear view of the overall topic of Gourdine’s essay. In addition, it reveals the author’s opinion on the topic and allows the readers an idea of what the writer is expressing in the work, in this case it is the role of mentors in our society. In her work, she discloses the very factor that brings forth talent in potential writers: encouragement. Gourdine exerts her thoughts on the importance of motivation, “Without recognition, why should a student try to progress? What difference would their efforts make if they sense they are still invisible?”
In the article “Changing as a Writer,” Audrey Brown reveals her own struggles in writing as a student at the University of Vermont. Brown states “When writing, I have always felt that I am struggling with myself” and that she wishes there was inspiration to encourage her writing career. This connects to Traci Gourdine’s work, presenting the need of patient and supporting educators.