I just realized why I love Dancing with the Stars so much, and it’s not only because I love dancing.  It’s because I love writing centers too and how Dancing with the Stars so neatly mirrors writing center work.

Everyone is a star.
Every new season of Dancing with the Stars brings stars I have never heard of.  But regardless of their renown, they all receive the same star treatment.  So it is with writing centers.  Everyone who walks in may not be a writing superstar, but everyone who walks in will leave feeling important and valued.

Everyone has varying abilities and that’s just fine by us.  As a matter of fact, that’s the way we like it best.
Let’s face it.  Not everyone on Dancing with the Stars has an athletic or artistic background.  That doesn’t mean those who do not should not be on the show.  It means that each competitor works with the gifts he or she already possesses while trying to learn new skills and sharing their talents with others.  Having people who are good at a variety of things is good for everyone.  So it is with writing centers.  Are you good at math?  Come on over to the writing center and help the rest of us apply a different type of logic to our writing.  Are you good carpentry?  Come on over to the writing center and help the rest of us understand how to fit disparate components of a paper together with precision.  Everyone learns and grows when everyone brings his or her own speciality.

Everyone has her or his own unique abilities, and we want to highlight that.
Speaking of specialties, everyone on Dancing with the Stars (stars and pros and judges alike) is good at something.  That’s why they’re on the show.  So it is with writing centers. We don’t want you to hide your light under a bushel basket, we want you to let it shine.

When I say everyone is unique, I mean everyone associated with the program.
One of the joys of watching Dancing with the Stars is the amalgamation of mostly good natured humanity.  People from all kinds of backgrounds with all kinds of abilities and disabilities work together to help people become better dancers, and in the process better people.  So it is with writing centers.  Writing centers turn no one away.  They are havens where people in all of their differences can work together to become better writers and better people.

Everyone is just trying to help you be the best you can be.
On Dancing with the Stars, they recognize competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and work a little more each week to maximize the former and minimize the latter.  So it is with writing centers.  We’ll help you get better at what you’re already good at as well as the concepts that cause you to stumble.

You will get help personalized to your particular needs.
Dancing with the Stars competitors can’t hide.  Every step is on display.  And as terrifying as that may sound, this visibility allows the pros to work with the stars on their particular struggles.  So it is with writing centers.  We see you and your writing.  You are an individual with particular needs, and when we see those needs we personalize our approach to help you with them.

Nobody will do your hard work for you.
Stars who do not put in the work on Dancing with the Stars demonstrate little improvement, no matter how hard their pros try to help them.  So it is with writing centers.  We will send you down a path, but we won’t do your work for you.  We respect you too much to steal the sense of true accomplishment from you.

You’ll discover a lot of laughter and fun.
I know the outtakes don’t show the whole story, but the people associated with Dancing with the Stars seem to be having a good time.  So it is with writing centers.  For starters, a lot of joy can be had in working hard.  Furthermore, working hard in an atmosphere of support and camaraderie that celebrates the uniqueness of individuals will certainly lead to fun times.

You’ll form lasting, positive relationships.
Everyone on Dancing with the Stars doesn’t instantly become fast friends with everyone else.  However, it’s easy to tell that everyone makes at least a few lasting bonds.  Working intensely together toward a shared goal and overcoming adversity and sharing joys while doing so cements relationships.  So it is with writing centers.  When people honestly are working toward the benefit of each other, it’s impossible not to form lasting, positive relationships.

If you’re looking for individualized star treatment that will benefit you today and in the future, I suggest becoming famous and landing a spot on Dancing with the Stars.  If that’s not a reasonable goal, remember, there’s always a writing center happy to do the same for you.