Personal Statement:
My interest in American Sign Language (ASL) dates back to my years in elementary school and growing up with a Deaf classmate. Taking ASL classes since childhood has led me to be passionate about signing and wanting to make sign language interpreting my career.
After the first two years of college and experiencing different universities, campuses, and majors, I finally found my niche at Vincennes University (VU). Vincennes University has a satellite campus, which is located on the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) campus. At ISD, I had two years of experience with Deaf professors and full emersion into the Deaf community. Every day, I feel more in love with language and my desire to study and grow has never ceased. This emersion experience included different events, including sports, with Deaf K-12 children, Deaf adults, daily exposure, all the while using my 2nd language.
Once I finished the two years at the ISD, I transferred to Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in American Sign Language/ English Interpreting. During my two years at IUPUI, I attended many Deaf events, workshops and conferences. Some events are ISD sporting events, Indiana Chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ICRID), and volunteering at Indiana Deaf Camp. Deaf camp is an annual, week long camp for Deaf and hearing kids that use ASL. I have been accepted to volunteer at Indiana Deaf Camp 2013. I have a commitment and motivation to be a member of the Deaf community and I have a desire and willingness to consistently work on my ASL and English skills.
The last year as a student at IUPUI, I had experiences with mentors and a practicum. I had the opportunity to be mentored by a practicing, nationally certified interpreter for an entire year. I gained educational interpreting skills and knowledge. My last semester as an undergraduate, I did a practicum in the medical interpreting setting. Both experiences were very helpful and beneficial to my knowledge of interpreting. I have a desire and motivation to work with children. As I become a professional, certified interpreter, I want to focus on medical and educational interpreting. However, I am open and eager to work in a variety of venues.
I have registered for the 2013 Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Conference at the JW Marriot Hotel and looking forward to networking and learning more about interpreting.
During the next 3-5 years, I have many goals. This year, I want to pass the National Interpreter’s Certificate (NIC) knowledge examination. Upon completion of this exam I will obtain my Indiana Interpreter’s Certificate (IIC). In approximately three years, I want to complete the NIC by taking the performance examination. Between the knowledge and performance examinations, I want to be interpreting full time and working on my language skills. In the next five years, I hope to begin a formal education program, possibly a graduate degree in linguistics, which would improve my language skills as an interpreter.
Below is me signing my personal statement.
My interest in American Sign Language (ASL) dates back to my years in elementary school and growing up with a Deaf classmate. Taking ASL classes since childhood has led me to be passionate about signing and wanting to make sign language interpreting my career.
After the first two years of college and experiencing different universities, campuses, and majors, I finally found my niche at Vincennes University (VU). Vincennes University has a satellite campus, which is located on the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) campus. At ISD, I had two years of experience with Deaf professors and full emersion into the Deaf community. Every day, I feel more in love with language and my desire to study and grow has never ceased. This emersion experience included different events, including sports, with Deaf K-12 children, Deaf adults, daily exposure, all the while using my 2nd language.
Once I finished the two years at the ISD, I transferred to Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in American Sign Language/ English Interpreting. During my two years at IUPUI, I attended many Deaf events, workshops and conferences. Some events are ISD sporting events, Indiana Chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ICRID), and volunteering at Indiana Deaf Camp. Deaf camp is an annual, week long camp for Deaf and hearing kids that use ASL. I have been accepted to volunteer at Indiana Deaf Camp 2013. I have a commitment and motivation to be a member of the Deaf community and I have a desire and willingness to consistently work on my ASL and English skills.
The last year as a student at IUPUI, I had experiences with mentors and a practicum. I had the opportunity to be mentored by a practicing, nationally certified interpreter for an entire year. I gained educational interpreting skills and knowledge. My last semester as an undergraduate, I did a practicum in the medical interpreting setting. Both experiences were very helpful and beneficial to my knowledge of interpreting. I have a desire and motivation to work with children. As I become a professional, certified interpreter, I want to focus on medical and educational interpreting. However, I am open and eager to work in a variety of venues.
I have registered for the 2013 Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Conference at the JW Marriot Hotel and looking forward to networking and learning more about interpreting.
During the next 3-5 years, I have many goals. This year, I want to pass the National Interpreter’s Certificate (NIC) knowledge examination. Upon completion of this exam I will obtain my Indiana Interpreter’s Certificate (IIC). In approximately three years, I want to complete the NIC by taking the performance examination. Between the knowledge and performance examinations, I want to be interpreting full time and working on my language skills. In the next five years, I hope to begin a formal education program, possibly a graduate degree in linguistics, which would improve my language skills as an interpreter.
Below is me signing my personal statement.
Here is the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqSSru6e7Dc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqSSru6e7Dc