I am just thinking back to how this one lovely lady in this picture has done so much for my interpreting career. She was the one professor that believe in me and saw that I had the potential when no one else would. She also told me a long time ago let's show them what we are made of and that you can do it. Well this lovely, awesome, caring, christian, woman has been battling cancer for a long time now. She isn't doing good and only a matter of time. I hate to see her leave this place but I know God has a mansion up in heaven waiting for her.
I have the honor to see her June 15, I am glad to see her. She remembered me of so much and also continued to show her beautiful smile and give out some good advice. Her advice was to live your life for the glory of God because life is short and enjoy every moment. Also I was able to tell her that I graduated from college. The first thing she said was we did it, we showed them that you could. Then she asked if I still had the heart and passion for sign language and the deaf and I said yes. She said good because I still see so much potential and that you are a great interpreter. She told me that when she gets to heaven she will be walking with Jesus and spot me through the clouds and ask if she could roll them back just to see me interpret. This statement made me just want to cry. She has touched my heart and life more then she will ever know it. She believed in me when no one else would. I believe it is for her that I didn't give up on interpreting.
God has placed many people in my life since she started believing in me. I have obtained a wonderful big sister who is deaf/hard of hearing and this has helped me improve and she believes in me just like Mrs. Barbara here. Also I have obtained an interpreter mentor and also many other interpreters that are helping me. I was able to work with Mrs. Barbara daughter this past Sunday and oh my. That was a wonderful experience I just felt Mrs. Barbara in all of it. Every time I looked over for some feedback it was all positive and letting me know that I was doing such a great job. Also she helped me interpreter a song in a more ASL way and it was just like I was working with Mrs. Barbara. I hope this is a beginning of a mentorship with her daughter because I would love to continue to learn and improve.
Also Mrs. Barbara is the first person to give me a job in interpreting. It was when I was in ASL 4 the first time. She believed in me that I had enough potential to start interpreting for a 4 yr old. This was very scary and Mrs. Barbara would always tell me that I could do it even though I didn't think I could. She I finally caved in and told her I would do it and wow it was such a great experience. I am glad that she believed in me and took out time in her life to believe in me. She will always be missed but never forgotten she has changed and believe in so many people. She is truly a women of God.
Love you Mrs. Barbara.
