Being an interpreter lets you have a taste of so many professions yet you never have to commit to any. You get to see the coolest part of the job (free ice cream in a space station factory) and the dullest part (one week employee training on how to fill out government forms).
The easiest parts (overnights at the hospital with a friendly patient) and the hardest (watching her die). It’s not a profession for the weak of stomach or heart. There is stability if you want it (educational interpreting), freedom if you don’t (taking jobs as you wish), challenges (legal interpreting), intriguing (medical), luxurious (cruise/travel guide interpreter), prestigious (national television interpreting), lucky (interpreting for the WWE or Presidential Campaigns), phone sex (video relay service), and just about everything in between.
Interpreting is not only about being fluent in two languages. It’s also about being a decent human being. Vague right? I suppose that’s why its not always easy to find people who knows what that means. I suppose if I had to bestow my opinion on my kids it would be that they try to be empathetic and kind. Be flexible. Be relaxed. Try your best and know that you’re doing so and that’s all you can do. Give people information and a choice. Do your best not to take things personally. They may try to throw you under the bus to get what they want, but that’s just them being unkind (unless they warn you first 😉
Assuming you are a good interpreter, and can also be a kind human being, then there’s no reason why you can’t choose your career path within the field of interpreting. Translations are also an option and can be just as fun and educational as on-site or over the phone interpreting. You will be in demand if you’re easy to work with, for both parties involved, on time, always show or call as soon as you know you can’t, prepared, and respect them as customers and as people who were once babies and who are now our neighbors on Earth.
I would love for my kids to be interpreters or translators to make some college money or vacation cash, but I wouldn’t want them to do it as a profession unless they thought they’d be the happiest in that profession above others within their grasp. I suppose we all want our kids to be us, but better. I don’t know what I’d like them to be, but whatever it is, I hope they are skilled at what they do and feel appreciated for what they do.
My kids speak three languages (Spanish, Sign Language, and English) and they’re awesome. I’m proud of them and love them more every day. Between my wife and I, our kids get the best intentioned parents and a fantastic tag team (the grandparents), and would be willing to enter them in a contest of most loved on the planet.
I digress…if you’d like an interpreter just give us a call or shoot us an email.
Best,
JJ
