WOW

WOW ok you guys a lot has happened and changed since I last posted to you. I have improved a lot this semester. It is all to my good friend and older sister Lori. She has helped me get out of my shell and has helped me find Confidence in myself. So I am passing my class this semester. I have also had one of my professors tell me that I have improved and that she is proud of me. She said when she first met me she wasn't sure if I was going to make it. Well know she believes that I can and will make it. She has seen such a big improvement in me in this year she was shocked. She is really proud. Well I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to interpret one of the songs at church during the service it went really well and all the Deaf people loved it. They all said I was a good interpreter. The following Sunday they all asked me if I was going to interpret again. Well that Sunday I didn't interpret.
Well this past Sunday night I arrived at church and there was no interpreter well I was with Lori and we were both like ok that's cool. Well we got to our sits and the Deaf couple was there and they were asking me if I would interpret. I was like seriously I was scared. Well one of the men from the church came up to me and asked if I would interpret. So I said yes I would first time ever doing this well Lori, who is my mentor, was like you can do it. The deaf people were encouraging me as well. So I sat up there and did it. I did have help from Lori when I got stuck or lost. But It went really well. Everyone told me that I did a good job. Well that night gave me more confidence in myself. I was able to prove to myself that I can do it.
Well today I went to the doctor with my friend and she has an interpreter. Well we were all talking and stuff well the interpreter looked at me and asked me when I graduate because she knew I was in college to me a interpreting major. Well when I told her that I didn't have my AA yet but will in the spring she was shocked with how good I was. She told me that I was good before I left and told me to keep up the work.
I am just thankful to God for bring my friend and sister Lori into my life. If it wasn't for her I do not think I would be were I am today. I have improved so much because her encouragement. I love hanging with all the deaf people at church they are all so sweet. They all encourage me as well. I know that hanging out with all of them has helped me improve a lot. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me in my future.

Back to school!

Well hey everyone sorry it has been way to long since I have posted. It has been a fun filled busy summer.
Today we started college classes again. I am excited now to be back at it I am hoping this semester will be a great one I feel like I have improved a lot since I last took one of the classes that I am taking this semester. I am excited to see how well I do this semester. I also have a mentor too that is helping me become better.
I am still interpreting on Sundays for the little girl that is so much fun. It is getting more challenging now because she moved up to another class this pass Sunday. It is exciting for her and me because it means more signing and interpreting. I am up and ready for this challenge.
Well that pretty much sums it up! Hopefully more will be to come in the next few weeks when I get more into all my classes.
Hope everyone had a great summer!

Why Interpreting????

I was given a challenge to write why interpreting was important to me and this is what I wrote. Hope you enjoy it!



Why is Interpreting important to me?

Interpreting is important to me because I just can’t see my life without. I have been learning sign language since I was in the 5th grade. Then in 8th grade I was on the sign language praise team at my high school. There are many reasons why interpreting is important to me. First it is to help someone communicate. One of my spiritual gifts is service and I feel like this is one why God wants me to use my spiritual gift. Also I have always liked helping other people whether it is behind the scenes or in public.

Another reason why interpreting is important to me is because back in high school I had a role model. My role model is my sign language teacher Cheryl Sugg. She was an interpreter before she came to teach at my school when I was in 5th grade. I always looked up to her and we became friends. She left my senior year of high school to go back to interpreting. I tried to keep the sign language praise team going when I was a senior but once I graduated the sign language was no more in my high school. After hearing this it saddened me a lot because sign language is my passion. I remember telling Cheryl that I wanted to be just like her one day. She told me that maybe in the future once I get my degree and everything that I could maybe work for her when we talked about this I was in high school still. Ever since I have graduated and everything we have became close friends. She still helps me and encourages me to do better and get better in interpreting.

Sometimes, I think why I chose to do this as my major and then I think I can’t see my life without it. Ever since I started interpreting for a little girl I just can’t see myself not doing this a lot of times. It brings me so much joy when I get done interpreting for her. I did a deaf revival and worked with the children and interpreted for those children that were deaf. I just had such a great weekend doing that and that’s when I can see I can’t live my life without interpreting.

This is why Interpreting is important to me. I feel like it is what God wants me to do with my life.

Deaf Revival

Hey everyone!
This weekend was a Deaf Revival at a church that I work at as an interpreter. I had so much fun and had a great experience. It was awesome. I worked with all the little kids. Most of the kids were under the age of 10 and we had a lot of them that are deaf. It was a lot of fun and I believe this is what I am a suppose to do with me live something with kids and deafness. I just love it.
I have been told twice within two days that I have A LOT of patience. So I think God gave me that patience to be able to work with children maybe. I guess we will wait and see. I can't wait till I go back to work and play with the children.
HAD A BLAST!!!!!

Remembering When

Just looking back on my High School years. Never would I had thought that I would miss those days. I have always said I don't miss those days one bit. But while looking back on videos and pictures. It made me miss certain aspects of those times. Even though it was only 3 years ago that I graduated from high school it had a big impact one me. It was during high school that I was shown what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It was there that I learned my true passion for sign language and if it wasn't for my mentor then I would have never made this possible for me to pursue it. I was listening to my graduation when one of my teacher gave the class of 07 a look into the future. She said that I would be working side by side with my mentor. Well you know what I am getting closer and closer to that goal every step of the way.

Also another thing high school taught me was to live everyday like it is your last. in April of 06 my class we lost a dear friend of ours. She was coming back to our school to graduate with us and do everything together our senior year. Well one evening she was heading back home and her and her boyfriend got killed in a car wreck. That was a hard time for our class. But there was one thing our friend taught us and it was to stick together. She always wanted our class to get closer and we did. Today we might not be close as a class like we were back then but things have changed and I know those of us that were close back then are still today.
Another thing I remember from high school was when our Sign Language Praise team would get up and do our songs.

I was looking back at videos and realizing how much I missed those days. I never thought I would say that but there are many different things I miss about those days but I know God has a plan now for my life and that was just a small part of it to get me to go where I need to be going. It gave my direction in what way to go.
So maybe in a few years like my teacher said maybe I will be working side by side with my mentor. That would be a great honor.


This is a picture of my friend that we lost. This is when our class went on a camping trip together back in 10th grade. I wasn't going to go but my friend and a few others talked me into going and I am so glad they did.


This is a picture of me and my Mentor Cheryl at my Graduation!


This is the picture of my close friends from high school on our graduation day. I don't think this group will ever split up or at least I hope not!

I will try to post some of those videos I was telling you about.

Congrats!

Well today was a sad day but yet a awesome day. Today a lot of my friends from the interpreter program at UALR graduated. It well not be the same now at college but I know they are all excited. Congrats to all that graduated today. Sometimes, I think I can't wait for the day that I graduate but I also think I don't want to wish my life away. I know that I will be there when God wants me there.
Well not much of a great blog but hey its just want I was thinking about.

Update!

Sorry its been forever since I last updated my blog. Put my interview went well with the SSP position and I am in there files to be able to do that now.

To get you up to date I finished my practicum last week. I am really going to miss hanging out with those kids. It was a great experience and I learned a lot from volunteering there. I am hopefully going to try to volunteer there more. I think I found what I would like to do with my future. I am thinking of working with children and sign language; if those correlate that would be great if they don't that would be fine also. I am still not exactly sure what I want to do once I get my BA degree but I still have a little more time to try to figure that out.

Oh yea I had a great time on my first road trip. It was awesome just getting to be able to drive and hang out with my friends. While hanging out with my friends I got to tour Louisiana, we went fishing and shopping and just have a great time. I also got to meet someone while I was down there. We have been talking for about a month now. So I guess we will see what will come out of this. I can't wait to go back down there and hang out with my friend.

Well I can't really think of anything else that I need to update you with.
I hope everyone has a great summer.

On the Road again!

Hey Everyone,

I just have a song stuck in my head. On the road again, can't wait to get on the road again. Anyways the reason I have that song stuck in my head is because I am heading out of town for the weekend. First road trip by myself YAY! LOL
Anyways, I have not had my interview yet for the SSP job. I go in on Monday for the interview. I am nervous but I know that God has full control of this and if it is not his plan for me to have this job or get this position. Then I know it will be okay. You just have to trust Him.
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I will update again next week to let you all know how the interview went. Thanks again!

Guess What

Hey Everyone!

Its been crazy again! With getting a new job and doing side jobs. Its been fun and interesting and I am loving it. I am finally happy with what I am doing.
I am almost finished with my Practicum. I love every second of being at the Deaf School. The kids are so sweet. I have one little kid in particular that always hangs out with me when I am there. She is about 4 years old. Just so cute and sweet.
I am still signing at a Church for a young girl also. I love doing that. The little girl and her family are so sweet and such a blessing.

Guess What!! I have a interview to see if I would be able to start helping SSP(Service Support Provider) for the Deaf-Blind. I am super excited! I am hoping God will lead. I know he will I just have to trust Him. So we will see I will update as soon as I know something about it.

Well I am on spring break now that means its almost summer and this semester will be over with. This will be the first summer that I haven't gone to college since I graduated high school. I have been going ever since the summer after I graduated first break ever this will be nice.

Well I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Hey!!!

Hey everyone!

Sorry it has been so long since I have made a post. It has been really busy with school and leaving my job and then being sick. But hopefully I can get everything back on track now.

The past few weeks I have done my practicum have been interesting. I am glad that I do my practicum at the Deaf school the kids just bring joy. I have one little girl that is 4 years old and every time I see her she always ask me, "Where have you been?" She is so cute and a joy to be around. I have already learned so many things from doing my practicum there. I have learned a lot about myself and that this is what I want to do with my future. I want to be able to work with children and Deafness.

During the week before Valentine's we had a party in the lower dorms with the children. It was really neat to be able to see the kids interact and dance. All the children were so excited to be having this party its all they talked about for like a few weeks. They girls and boys were able to get all dressed up and looking good. Then we played a few games at the party then it was time to dance. The children loved the party!

Well this week will be the start of a new week and I will start back up on my practicum. I can't wait to get to see the children!
Hope everyone has a awesome week!!!

First Week!!!

Hey Everyone!! I am sorry I haven't posted anything about my practicum yet I have been very busy. But here it is!
I had a awesome time my first day of my practicum. I am at ASD which is the Deaf school here. I sit in on a home making class for the first two hours I am there then the next three I am in the lower dorms. I had a blast! The first day I got a tour of the lower school and the lower dorms. I was able to meet all the children that I will be working with. I even made some new friends. I had a little girl telling everyone look this is my new friend Brittany. She was really sweet. I also got to go to the Seniors Basketball game. It was a awesome game, they all played well.
The second day I was able to sit in on the home making class. We really didn't do anything because a lot of the kids had already been sent home because of the weather that was heading our way. I was able to get to know the teacher more that I will be sitting in on. I was not able to go to the lower dorms because they had closed and sent the kids home. I was disappointed not getting to hang out with the kids but I will have plenty of time in the coming weeks.
Overall, I had an awesome week in my practicum. I am excited about it and looking forward to more of it. I think I have finally found what I want to do in the future or "when I grow up".

Interpreting!!!

Well today I interpreted at church again for a 3 year old. I love working with her every time I work with her it makes me smile. It is amazing to see how much ASL she knows and she is only 3. Today we during Bible story it was hard to keep her attention but after all she is only 3 its hard to keep any 3 years old attention. After the Bible story and during the church time we get to play. Today we played with puzzles, cars, and when we were waiting for her mother to come back and get her we started playing dress-up. She had a pink hat the she would put on me and then she would get other objects and make me hold them or she would put them on me.
It is just such a joy being able to work with her. I love interpreting and I love working with kids. It is amazing to see God work and I think God is making a path for my future. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

Practicum!!

Hey to everyone that keeps up to date with my blog. Guess What!!!! I am starting my practicum this week, Practicum is a course that I have to take through college and we go and observe an interpreter or just go interact in the Deaf community. I am being placed at (ASD)Deaf School. I am super excited about it. I am a little nervous but I think it will be good. There is also a possibility that I will be able to go visit some of the Deaf-Blind individuals in our community and just spend some time with them and chat. This will be a great experience for me and I will learn A LOT, but I am super nervous and excited.
So there will be more to come as I go through with this. I hope everyone enjoys seeing what goes on in the life of a college student going to be an Interpreter.

Ah Ha Moments

I think I am finally understanding the Ah Ha moments more and more. Today was the Deaf Blind Social for January. It was just an annual meeting. I am also a member of ADBC now also.
Today I was asked to interpret for someone and I was a little nervous but I did it. My Ah Ha moment for the day was when I just copied sign. I have always been told just to copy sign in situations like that. Even if I don't understand the signs. Well today I didn't understand what I was sign a few times but the individual I was signing to understood me and that is what matters.
I am so excited and eager to see my road ahead in interpreting. I know God has a plan in.
I am doing my practicum this semester in college. I am eager to see what that holds. I have a chance to interact at the deaf school, rehabilitation services, or I just got asked today if I would be interested in visiting, talking, and spending time with some Deaf-Blind individuals. Now I just have to pick which one I want to do and I am leaning toward the Deaf-Blind individuals. I enjoy hanging out with the Deaf-Blind community.

God is Good

Hey everyone!
Today was a good day. I went and interpreted for the young child today and we had a good day. We talked about Ezra in the Sunday school class. During the service we got to play with. Then after Church was over with the family asked me to go out to eat with them. We had a great time we were able to learn more about each other. Over all it was a great day because we service a awesome God! I enjoy very much working with the family and their children, they are wonderful people I am looking forward to continuing working with them and learning more and becoming friend more and more.
Have a great week everyone!