Beth Topping
Beth Topping has taught writing to students of all backgrounds at universities and community colleges. She spent eight years teaching academic research and writing to undergraduate and graduate learners of English before joining the doctoral program in Rhetoric and Composition at Georgia State University. She is comfortable using both MLA and APA. She also has a math and science background from her undergraduate degree before joining the English department and has taught a number of classes focusing on writing in the sciences.
Learn more about Beth!
Let’s get started with the basics, Beth. Where are you from originally?
I was born in the Chicago area, but mostly grew up around Columbus, GA, and Phenix City, AL. I lived in Auburn, AL, for over a decade before moving to Atlanta to go to GSU.
What are you studying and why?
I’m pursuing a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition. I originally wanted a Ph.D. in Linguistics, but after teaching Composition for over a decade and taking some rhetoric-focused classes between degrees, I realized Rhetoric and Composition is my passion.
What are your goals for after GSU?
I hope to obtain a full-time position that allows me to teach a range of classes, not just freshman composition or literature and gives me time for research.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned from tutoring?
Patience. Everybody needs space and time to figure out what they want to do or where they want to go with a project.
What’s the most memorable thing a student has ever said to you?
I’ve been tutoring for so many years, I honestly can’t remember one particular thing. I do remember being thanked for helping a number of students with college applications, and being asked how they can thank me. I always ask them to pay it forward. We could all use (and do) a little more of this.
How has writing influenced your life?
I’ve always liked to write. A group of friends and I would exchange journals in which we’d write a chapter focusing on different characters in middle school. I never imagined then that writing would be central to my personal and career goals, but writing is always what I’ve enjoyed most about school.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get where you are now?
Patience, again. It takes time to figure one’s self out. I took four years off between my bachelor’s and master’s, and six between my master’s and Ph.D. programs. I was under pressure to figure out what I was going to do with my life pretty early, but it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I knew. I’m much happier that I didn’t rush into an engineering program or move away from my family when I was being pressured to do so. All things come in their own time, but don’t wait too long, either. When you know, that is when to do it.