Learning is a lifelong process, and for Mallory McDuff, BS’88, a pivotal moment occurred during her freshman year at Vanderbilt University. In a Modern American Novel course taught by Dr. Vereen Bell, McDuff faced a harsh reality check that ultimately reshaped her approach to writing and learning. This is the story of how one challenging experience transformed a student’s understanding of the power of revision and the importance of seeking help.
McDuff’s journey began with an “F” and a pointed question scrawled on her first paper: “Where did you learn to write like this? Come see me.” The stark feedback from Dr. Bell, a renowned professor with over 50 years of experience at Vanderbilt, left McDuff reeling. Coming from a public high school with limited resources, she felt unprepared for the academic rigor of college. While her extracurricular achievements were impressive, they hadn’t equipped her with the writing skills necessary to succeed in Dr. Bell’s class.
Summoning her courage, McDuff met with Dr. Bell. Instead of focusing on criticism, Dr. Bell offered a lifeline: He proposed that if McDuff wrote an essay on every assigned novel and submitted them before the due date, he would provide feedback for revision. This simple act of mentorship ignited a transformative learning experience.
Dr. Bell’s guidance introduced McDuff to the transformative power of revision. Through countless hours spent rewriting and refining her work, she honed her critical thinking and writing skills. What she learned extended far beyond grammar and sentence structure; she discovered the importance of seeking feedback and embracing the iterative nature of the writing process. By the end of the semester, McDuff had not only earned an A- in the course but also cultivated a lifelong habit of seeking and utilizing constructive criticism.
This formative experience profoundly impacted McDuff’s approach to learning and teaching. Now a professor of environmental studies and outdoor leadership at Warren Wilson College, she encourages her students to embrace revision and seek help when needed. She carries Dr. Bell’s legacy forward, fostering a learning environment where students can grow and develop their skills through constructive feedback and continuous improvement. “Come see me,” she writes on her students’ papers, echoing the words that changed her academic trajectory. The lesson learned decades ago continues to resonate, highlighting the enduring power of mentorship and the importance of asking for help on the path to learning.
McDuff’s story underscores a fundamental truth about how we learn: growth often stems from challenges and the willingness to seek guidance. Dr. Bell’s question, “Where did you learn to write like this?” ultimately led McDuff to discover not just how to write, but how to learn. The experience instilled a lifelong appreciation for the transformative power of feedback and the courage to ask for help, a lesson she now imparts to her own students.
