Keturah
I first learned fingerspelling in first grade. Later, my younger sister had the same teacher and she learned fingerspelling too. So we would fingerspell with each other when we didn’t want our parents to know what we were talking about. But it was just fingerspelling, no sign language at that time. When I was 16, people heard I knew sign language, which I didn’t, I just knew how to fingerspell. So one interpreter who had a Deaf son asked if I could do some babysitting. He was only 2 or 3 years old and I thought fingerspelling would be enough, and I would learn some simple signs from him. I ended up taking care of him almost every weekend, and he would stay overnight. As he grew, of course, his language grew and worked hard to keep up with his growing abilities in sign language. We would talk about what happened at school, etc. and my language grew too. I also started taking classes at a community college so I could keep up with him. I felt like it was my obligation since I was spending so much time with him.
I graduated from a local community college interpreting program and started working as an interpreter right away. By that time I already had a lot of Deaf friends in the community. They helped me to improve quite a lot! Then I started working as an interpreter in a high school. I was only 19 years old, so people often thought I was actually a student at the school! That experience made me become more professional and dress the part so that I wouldn’t be mistaken for a student. I worked in educational settings for about 8 years. Then I moved up at my agency to interpreter coordinator. I was responsible for scheduling, outreach, and working with entities who were resistant to providing interpreting services. I worked in that position for 4 years, until I left to attend to a sick family member.
Next, I started working at our local university as a staff interpreter where I am currently employed. I also do freelance work and occasional video relay work.
I have been working as an interpreter for 15 years. My favorite type of interpreting is performing arts. I was certified after working in the educational setting for 4 years, when my state’s laws changed and I was required to have the EIPA. I took the test and got a 4.9. I took the NIC in 2008, and passed, obtaining the NIC-Advanced certification.