Using the Written Word to Achieve A Desired Result

Writing to convince someone to take action and get things done- an essential skill that takes plenty of practice.

Can the pen truly be considered more powerful than the sword?

Sylvia Mackey has played multiple roles not just in her personal life but even professionally. She has worked as a bilingual secretary for the World Bank, a linguist for the Defense Department, a flight attendant, and also as one of the top fashion models in the world. She is also the wife of John Mackey, the Baltimore Colt legend in American Football. Post retirement he was diagnosed with dementia, which eventually worsened. He had to be in a full time assisted living facility on a small pension which was barely enough to cover the medical expenses. This prompted his wife Sylvia Mackey to write to the (National Football League) NFL commissioner about their situation. It is said that the commissioner's wife had tears in her eyes when he showed her Sylvia's letter. That letter resulted in the implementation of the "88 plan" under which retired NFL players received $88,000 for medical care annually and $50,000 for adult care. The number 88 was John Mackey's number.

This plan benefitted several players and gained even more significance when John Mackey's condition was diagnosed as chronic traumatic encephalopathy after his death. Studies indicate that this is caused by several hits to the head and is common among football players. (More on Sylvia Mackey and the letter that changed the way things worked for retired NFL players)

Her letter wasn't just a formal letter written for an exam, but for a purpose.

It definitely wasn't the first formal letter that she ever wrote. She must have written several letters on multiple occasions, even as a student. Her writing did what she needed to get done in the most difficult situations in her life. Sylvia's example is just one of many examples in which writing impactfully has helped bring about desired results in the positive direction.

Students often get carried away with academic load and pay little attention to their writing skills as a means to communicate something to the reader. What is obvious and yet often ignored is the fact that writing effectively translates to better performance in academics too as it becomes a lot easier for examiner to assess a student's understanding of a subject. The key is to spare little time each week, even 30 mins would do, to write something to convey a message to a potential reader. Who knows it may come in handy later on when it matters even more!

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