Most people downtown know him as the Barrett writing tutor. Others refer to him as the “Human Event God.” I figured, however, that there is probably more to him than just a guy hanging out in Starbucks who reads a million bad Pericles essays. Get to know Gabriel Sandler.
What’s your major?
I’m a journalism major with a print emphasis. I especially like magazine writing, long form style. I think it’s especially rewarding when you get close to a subject and get to tell a story creatively and thoroughly.
Most of ASU is in Tempe, but you’re downtown, Whats the best part about that campus?
My favorite thing about the downtown campus is accessibility. Because all the students and staff are in such close proximity, everyone develops a degree of familiarity. As a journalism student, that accessibility has been really helpful in securing interviews with enthusiastic and involved individuals. That includes people in government, sports, business and activism, to name a few areas. The downtown campus is conducive to that type of cooperation.
You’re the Barrett D-Town writing tutor, what are the highs and lows of the job?
The most rewarding part of tutoring is recognizing people’s growth as writers. After I’ve been working with students for a while, I’ll sometimes point out specific improvements they’ve made, and they can’t believe it! It’s really satisfying being a part of that, and it helps my writing too. My least favorite part comes when tutoring gets repetitive. Until students get confident enough to venture into more complex and unique arguments, I get a lot of similar essays and customizing the feedback becomes difficult
Who is Gabriel besides just a writing savior? What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I definitely try to mix it up. Like any 21-year-old, I go out on the weekends, and Phoenix has a lot of cool spots. I read a lot, particularly historical fiction and short stories. Anytime I can justify the cost, I go to the movies. It’s a little embarrassing but I watch a lot of movie trailers too. YouTube is a total rabbit hole for that. I’ve been trying to cook more, but that’s a work in progress. I love concerts. I’ve seen the Mowgli’s several times, the Black Keys, Walk the Moon, Grouplove, Young the Giant and several others. I went to Austin City Limits with a group of friends this year and had an incredible time. Nothing quite compares to unlimited tunes.
Gabriel’s top 3 tips for better writing:
1) Read your work out loud. I do this too. It helps you get a sense of the rhythm of your paper, catch errors and helps you review writing in a more deliberate way.
2) Write concisely. That doesn’t mean you can’t write creatively, it just requires pickiness. Only use words that matter.
3) Know what you’re trying to say. With some papers, that translates to have an argument ready. With other types of writing, just have a plan. Sitting down and getting words on a page feels great, but don’t write without direction.
And obviously the most important question…
Everyone loves Netflix, What are your Netflix habits like?
On Netflix, I can pretty much watch any episode of The Walking Dead over and over again. I love it. When I just need some background noise, I put on Scrubs. I can drift in and out of an episode without feeling like I’ve missed anything major. But again, The Walking Dead is the priority.