Every interpreter has a story. It's the same story we tell our colleagues, consumers, friends, and even strangers on the street when asked "Why did you become an interpreter?" Variations that lead to our story include "How did you become an interpreter?" "Do you have Deaf family?" "How did you learn sign language?" "Is this really your full-time job?"
Short version:
I am not a CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) or a SODA (Sibling of Deaf Adult). I started learning sign language in the second grade and stuck with it.
Long version:
My second grade teacher, Mr. Wilson, taught my class (as well as another class) sign language in the cafeteria on Friday afternoons. Back then, I thought it was pretty cool; in retrospect, I wonder if he was trying to keep us out of trouble. Being the early 90's, we learned the signs to Michael Jackson's "Heal the World" and hits of the day. While we were learning signs that corresponded to the English words, I did not learn ASL as a whole language; for years, I held onto and picked up signs, but never learned the grammar. My grandmother bought me my first sign language book at a discount book store- Lou Fant's The American Sign Language Phrase Book. My elementary school self did not appreciate this book, nor did I recognize the Lou Fant name, and it was quickly replaced by The Joy of Signing. I continued picking up signs casually from the books and summer camp before taking ASL classes in high school.
During my freshman year of high school, I learned that my friend's biology teacher shared my interest in sign language. Mr. O'Donnell offered to sponsor the club and UHS SIGNers took off from there. Although it never grew larger than ten members in a given year, I was very pleased to see it continue after I graduated. As a sophomore, I started getting serious about my post-graduation plans and wanted to pursue interpreting or Deaf education as a major. My middle and high schools had language requirements, but did not offer ASL. As a result, I took Spanish for six years, but wanted an ASL class before heading off to college. My mom found sign language classes at Center for Hearing and Deafness (CHAD), where I took evening classes during my sophomore and junior years. A scheduling conflict with marching band my senior year prevented me from taking a third year.
As I commenced my college search, I was on the fence between majors. At this time, I knew I wanted to use sign language in my career and I thought I had two options- interpreting or Deaf Education. Furthermore, I knew nothing about interpreting, did not know any interpreters and knew two Deaf people (my teacher & her husband). Faced with the reality that colleges offered one of the majors, not both, and that Deaf Education would eventually require a Master's degree, I choose to focus on interpreting. I figured that if I majored in interpreting that I could pursue my M.Ed. down the road; in the meantime, I would learn ASL and could work as an interpreter while going to grad school.
While I was taking my interpreting and ASL classes, I was uncertain about my future as an interpreter. At one point, I considered changing my major to Spanish with teacher licensure- but only because that was the only major that would get me out of college in four years. That all changed when I did my summer internship for interpreting. Once I actually started to interpret, I realized how much I loved it! In May 2007, I graduated from Maryville College with a dual degree in Interpreting and ASL/Deaf Studies and Spanish minor.
Sign language interpreting is my full time job and I love it! After working for the public school system for two years, I dove into freelance interpreting, specializing in business, government, and post-secondary settings. I earned my National Interpreter Certification in February 2010. I appreciate the variety and the opportunity to learn something new everyday. I have certainly experienced the ups and downs of this profession, but I am so happy to have stuck with it. Washington, D.C. is one of the greatest places to be an interpreter and I feel blessed to be living and working in this area and have this experience.
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