Our Gifts, addendum

along the trail of sharing our gifts...
I'm an ASL interpreter. It's not what I do, in large part, it's who I am.
I became interested in signing 30 years ago (yes I was 10), found uncommon ways to grow in proficiency (language immersion with Deaf community & classes directed at adults) and began interpreting at 16 (when my friends earned $3.35/hour at McDonalds, I earned $6.50-$10/hour interpreting in the community).
Upon arriving in SoCal in 1986, I found great opportunities to continue interpreting (adding some Spanish/ASL/English interpreting to my repertoire) and grow as a professional. I worked at High School and College level interpreting, which I much prefer to community work (predictability? relationship? yeah, both!). Eventually, I worked at CSUN with amazing pioneers of our field (Gary Sanderson) at a time when there was little respect for interpreters as human beings. I'm glad to have been part of the movement toward better pay, minimum hours and humane treatment.
When I returned in SD in 1994, I was horrified!! I'd had 10 years professional experience since I'd left, though with the new legislation requiring certification (test administered by the monopolizing interpreter referral agency) and me without certification, I was offered $7.50/hour (yes, I pointed out to them that was a $1 raise for 10 years experience -- they pointed to the blank spot on the wall where my certification *should be*). I got a job for better pay at SD School for the Deaf, in the dorm, direct care of Deaf children ♥ The Joy!!!
Eventually, Life's Path lead me again out of the Deaf Community, to an educational secretary -- less skills, more pay, better insurance :D (perfect timing -- as Mitch was dx with his brain tumor while on this better insurance policy!!)
There came a point, however, when the neglect of my gift was more guilt than I could bear. I sought ways to take the certification exam and give back to the Community I loved & missed so much. I got a great score, though I feel the results were tainted by the examiners' knowledge I would not be working for their organization. Be that as it may, just weeks after Hayden was born I began my first real venture into community interpreting, with a far more ethical organization. I found a care-giver for my kids, whom I would pay the same 2 hour minimum pay that I was receiving. Between jobs I would stop by, nurse my babies, and head out to the next assignment. (Mitch was just returning to work after his radiation treatments, a split shift with a nap in between)
Along this path, there came a time when having a job with insurance benefits became a dire necessity... I met an interpreter who was working at an elementary school and looking to delve more deeply into community interpreting -- We traded jobs!!
By now, Mitch was home full time on chemotherapy and was willing to be primary care-giver to his kids ♥ I Loved, Loved, Loved my job!!! The entire 3 months I was there...
When Mitch died, I quit immediately, and became a full-time mama ♥ the bestest job in the universe ♥
And now 7 years later, I sit with this amazing gift I'm once again not using...
In the planning for our move to Oregon, I did some cursory searches for what may be required of me to venture back into interpreting. There was no state legislation to be found and I ended my search, in favor of part-time baking and occasional public speaking for pay! In the back of my head was a voice saying, As soon as it lands in my lap, I'll pick it back up again.
The first universal nudge came when someone commented there were two interpreters for our local Vagina Monologues performance. There was some discussion about volunteer vs paid jobs (the Code of Professional Conduct prevents an interpreter from volunteering for a job that would normally be a paid position-- it's stealing money from our colleagues and promoting a less than professional view of our work) and the spark of realization: There are Deaf Consumers in our community!! There was another nudge when I was asked to share my ASL with the unschoolers in our community. And yet another nudge when I met a friend, by accident, in a local restaurant who shared another friend of hers is soon to be working at OSU (Go Beavs!) as an interpreter. **hint, hint** I reiterated my *landing in my lap* philosophy and went happily on my way.
It was just an hour later that I was giving Victor and his dogs a ride to Philomath, thinking deeply and passionately about Gifts and their use.
When I woke up, I called OSU.
I have an appointment/interview on Friday afternoon.
The Gift shall be utilized in the community I so dearly love.
Wow! Life Is Good ♥