The Journey

During the week of August 6-10, I had the opportunity to do my very first interpreting job. I received an email from my mentor interpreter about accompanying a nine year old girl to summer camp. It seemed that the church that was going to camp was in need of another interpreter and she emailed me about a week before we were supposed to leave and asked if I could go. I was indeed excited that I was even asked to be an interpreter considering that I am still a student and I am still learning how to be an interpreter. When I read the email and realized it was during the week, my initial reaction was, "Oh no, I can't go - I have to work!" I texted my mom and a good friend of mine about the email I got, and my friend encouraged me to ask my boss if I could take my vacation early (I am not eligible until Oct for vacation). I was a bit nervous about this because how many companies would actually allow an employee take vacation early? I worked up enough courage to ask and surpris...

I have been going to college (while working full time) since 2007, studying American Sign Language (ASL) in hopes of one day to become an interpreter. When I decided to go to college, move away from friends and family, and study this beautiful language, I had NO IDEA how tough it was really going to be. I don't know how other adults(30+) with families and children manage work, school, homework, soccer games, date nightes with the spouses, etc do it. I am a single girl living on my own. I have work and I have school. It really should not be this complicated. However, it is complicated and I have to deal with it all including not meeting my own expectations. I just finished my finals for the Spring 2012 semester and I thought that I did all of them well. Thanks to technology, I don't have to wait too long to get my results. Well, as unfortunate as it is, I did not do so well on one very important class; a class that I needed to get a B in to move to the next round of classes. R...

So, it has been a year since my nephew, Chris, was killed in a car accident. It has been the fastest and yet slowest year of my life. There are days where my brain tells me that it didn't happen and that it is just a dream. Yet, even in denial I know it happened. My 25 year old nephew is gone... I think I have experienced this year much differently than most who have been going through the grieving process. Most of the year has been emotionless. I have been in denial and I have often felt that I was on the outside looking in. Every single time that I pass exit 19 on 695 I remember when I pulled over so my mom could tell me that he was gone. I sat there in the middle of rush hour traffic wondering what I should do. The 300 miles that separated me and my family might as well have been a million. At that moment I wish I had a Mr. Gadget helicopter hat so I could fly over it all and land in Crisfield. Obviously, it wasn't that simple and it probably was the longest three hours of...

So, I just finished watching this movie called Courageous. It is about a man who is a father and a police officer. Adam worked hard and wad good at his job but when it came to his family he was good enough - not really taking time to spend with his son,15, and his daughter, 9. Until one day, his daughter was killed by a drunk driver when she was in a car with her friend during a sleepover. Adam realized just how mediocre he really is as a parent. From that moment on Adam began to search God and the Bible on how to be a better dad to his son. Anyone can be a dad, but it takes courage to be a father. This movie struck me in many different ways. It really is a movie to be seen by families and more importantly, fathers. I am not a man nor am I a parent, but a phrase in that movie really struck me. I haven't cried in about 10 months, but this movie made me cry. I know what it is like to lose someone tragically and suddenly. You have these feelings that you can't e...

I am not a fan of New Year's. I don't see the point in it. The only thing that I enjoyed is flipping to Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve and he retired. I also don't get the resolutions. Why is it that people make all of these resolutions and no one EVER follows through? I don't think I've ever made one because I know that I'll procrastinate and never do it. People make resolutions only around this time of the year. I really don't get it. What about the OTHER 364 days? Each and every day that we wake up is a chance to begin again. Why wait until New Year's to say, "I will do this," or "This year I am not going to do this." If you mess up, it is not the end of the world. You don't have to wait next year or next month or even next week to change something about yourself. You have the power to change now. Hal Borland said Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can ...

WOW! The last few months have been a blur. Thus, my reason for not writing. I simply haven't had the time. So just to catch you up: In September, I started the Fall 2011 semester, moved to a new apartment (same building just different floor), got a new job,  and went to a wedding. In October, I was working my new job and helping out my old job because it was busy and I didn't want to leave them stranded (yeah, i know I am too nice - but that's me), all while trying to handle three classes. In November, aside from school, work, and Thanksgiving I decided that my life needed more action so I got into a little accident. Yep, I'm brilliant, what can I say? LOL So needless to say I haven't had much time for writing. Since, the year is almost through, I began reflecting on 2011. I must say this has been a tough year. I can't say it has been a good year, there have been moments that have been good, but nothing spectacular. My family lost someone special back in Mar...

It was the longest drive home tonight. This semester has been the toughest in my academic career. It's weird though. Even with the death of my nephew and as hard as that has been, this semester,academically, has been twice as hard. If that is possible. Last semester, I was on top of my game. I had straight A's, made the Dean's List, and had an article published. This one, I am struggling and I feel like I am barely keeping my head above water. I will be happy to just pass these classes. Sometimes we question ourselves. We wonder if what we are doing is the right thing. When we make a decision in our lives that decision can have a lasting effect on us. I have no doubt that I should be here going to school. However, I didn't anticipate being here for four years. I didn't anticipate it being this hard. And I certainly didn't anticipate how I would feel in the process. The title of my blog is called, The Journey. It's not about the destination, but the journ...