Returning to normalcy after a tragedy can be difficult, but Utah Valley University adjunct professor and staff member Tyler Mower found a way to make the process a little easier.
Returning to normalcy after a tragedy can be difficult, but Utah Valley University adjunct professor and staff member Tyler Mower found a way to make the process a little easier. Following the events of September 10, Mower handwrote a note of encouragement to each of his 19 students for their return to his search engine optimization (SEO) class.
"I was just trying to think through…what does one do to restart a class after something like that?" Mower said. "What could I do that’s impactful and meaningful?" He went on to describe the personal nature of handwritten notes and why he thought writing them for his students would be impactful.
"I think it’s a method that people connect with well…I think the personal touch is key, and we just don’t get that with an email or a chat," Mower said.
For each note, Mower began his writing process by putting the student’s name at the top of the paper and then writing out the message he prepared for them.
“I tried to make [the message] significant for everybody…I did my best to consider [my students] and what that specific message could mean to them,” Mower said. “For me, it was pretty impactful to just kind of think through that and convey that meaning through ink and pen.”
Mower addressed what the students had been through, expressed his gratitude to them for returning to class, and encouraged them to continue making the world a better place.
Rob Steffen, a student in Mower’s class, expressed gratitude for the note and even posted about receiving it on social media.
“Tyler’s personal letter made me feel visible and perceived in that moment, and more connected to my classmates and to the UVU community,” Steffen said.
Steffen found Mower’s action of writing notes to be an example of exceptional care. “Tyler’s instinct to check in on everyone in such a personal and labor-intensive way was so thoughtful that it really took me aback,” Steffen said. “He handwrote more letters for his students than I’ve probably written in my entire life. That really struck us as a moment of humanity.”
As a UVU alumnus, Mower said his understanding of exceptional care was shaped by three instructors who showed care to him during his time as a student. He described how they knew him as an individual, made time for him despite other commitments, and provided personalized feedback.
"I now strive to emulate their care in my class,” Mower said.
