10 years! I've been an credentialed sign language interpreter for 10 years this month.

Let me go back to the beginning for a moment as I had always liked sign language and wanted to learn it. Well when I got into college, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life so I took a sign language class. I did well and during the second class, God clearly asked me 'When are you going to do anything about interpreting'?

Honestly, I didn't even know what interpreting entailed, but nevertheless I started researching different schools to attend and settled on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I transferred there and received my Bachelor's in Interpreting: ASL (American Sign Language)/English. While I was in school I was able to pass the Arkansas state credential test and start interpreting, my first job I had was supposed to be a regular gyn check up but ended up being a fertility treatment consult. I knew I was in for quite the adventure after that! I received my national certification in March 2009, just less than 5 years after I started interpreting.

Currently, I contract with several sign language interpreting agencies here in the valley doing a great variety of free-lance work, as well as work at the community colleges and universities interpreting classes for students. I have also contracted with a few businesses on my own on the side.

A 'working' picture of me

I've interpreted for all of the following:
eye appointments, audiology, cardiology, diabetes, hemorrhoid checks, well man/woman exams, well-child visits,  dentist, dental surgery, med checks, endoscopy, colonoscopy, chemo, biopsy, circumcision, prenatal appointments, newborn screenings, surgeries, orthopedics, mobility training, cancer treatments and consults, even telling people that they have cancer for the first time or have other diseases, liver specialists, dialysis, the emergency room, and fertility appointments/procedures.

I have gone to physical therapy, labor and delivery, hospice, pediatrics, funerals, male problems, female problems, ob/gyn, urology, pre-op/post op and I even had to gown up for going into the actual surgery room several times, nuclear medicine, MRI's, X-Rays, CT Scans, PET Scan, and  ultrasounds.

I have interpreted for patients in the doctor's office, patients in the hospital, psychiatry sessions, behavior health including in patient facilities, counseling, youth detention centers, 12-step programs, support groups, home health, CPS, supervised visits, diversion programs, city and state offices, library, children's gymnastic class, children's swim class, shipping companies, social security, DDD, DES, Dept of Revenue and CPS.

Additionally I  have worked at State Legislature sessions, Post Office, big corporations, retail stores, insurance, taxes, small business, conferences, dinners, on stage in front of large audiences, unions, people connected with the mafia, pharmaceutical companies, job interviews, job training, work meetings, disciplinary meetings, firings, hirings, annual reviews, Voc Rehab, in house trainings, around heavy machinery, in clean rooms working with tiny electronics, banking, signing a mortgage on a new home, new home inspections, award ceremonies, motivational speakers, church services, parties, reunions, videos, public meetings, housing assistance, WIC, research sessions, pain management, museums, traffic school, cultural events, at a horse barn and day programs just to name a few.

In secondary school I have interpreted at elementary and high school classes, high school foot ball practice and in the locker room on game day, field trips, talent shows, and parent-teacher meetings.

I like the college/university scene and have interpreted classes such as music, Spanish, reading, math, drama, equine, philosophy, film, culinary, photography, language arts, English, pyschology-including one where they experimented with rats, sociology, computer programming, meat cutting, cosmetology, office skills, science, art, swimming class, mixed martial arts, electrical, pipe, trade schools, welding, nursing, and an astronomy star gazing trip (in the dark and cold... and with a flashlight shining on and blinding me much to the dismay of the presenter).

There have been multiple graduations from community college, nursing schools, ASU including at Wells Fargo Arena and Gammage Auditorium where I have worked. Several of which, I have seen myself on the jumbo-tron while interpreting.

My clients consist of babies, children, teenagers, adults, seniors. I've interpreted for a wide range of hearing and vision abilities or lack there of, including a lot of work with the deaf-blind population.

I've had to yell at patients and doctors, at employers and employees, at spouses and kids, at clients and counselors (to clarify, my clients both hearing and deaf were yelling at each other and I had to yell with my interpretation both with my voice and with my hands).

There have been some famous people that I have interpreted for including a couple of actors, secretary of labor Hilda Solis (the first Hispanic woman in the US Cabinet), congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, the first deaf paramedic, first deaf phlebotomist here in AZ, senators, principals, deans and provosts.

I've heard many trade secrets and how businesses operate behind the scenes. I've interpreted at all hours of the day, late nights, early mornings and a couple overnights.

I've gone to camp, Louisiana, Little Rock, Chicago with work and Honduras with a deaf school/mission trip. I will be heading to Los Vegas this summer to interpret a deaf-blind conference.

Here in Arizona I have interpreted in the following cities. Queen Creek, Anthem, Sun City West, Avondale, Maricopa, Fountain Hills, Gold Canyon, Tucson, Casa Grande, Guadalupe, Laveen, Phoenix, Peoria, Scottsdale, Buckeye, Tolleson, Tempe, Mesa, Apache Junction, New River, Sun City, and Surprise.

I've had to work with spoken language interpreters using Spanish, Certified Deaf Interpreters, minimal language interpreters, and foreign sign languages.

I've held hands during procedures, held buckets for vomit, given hugs, been with people in some important and vulnerable moments in their life as well as the mundane, put a lot of miles on my vehicle, and seen so much that I personally would have never had the opportunity to see. I have met so many wonderful people through all of this and have been able to support my family for which I am very grateful!  Every day is different and I never know what to expect. I have learned a little bit about everything and been a like a fly on the wall in people's lives.