Melanie Page

What is your name?

This is an anonymous response.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I found a crayon drawing from when I was six, and I drew that I wanted to be a clown-dancer-lawyer. I wanted to be EVERYthing!

Does your childhood career goal now affect your interpreting in any way? Do they overlap, “speak” to each other, or are they completely separate?

Interpreting allows me to “be” everything! I can be the student, teacher, doctor, lawyer, dancer, clown, actor, etc. It truly encompasses all my childhood dreams of connecting people.

In what ways do you mindfully and intentionally give back to your interpreting colleagues?

I put my screens away while I ask thoughtful questions, ask for and offer constructive feedback, and hold space for venting.

Give an example of a time another interpreter mindfully and intentionally gave back to you.

I was working every two weeks in a small group of K12 interpreters for deliberate practice led by a CDI as our ASL language coach. We took turns with activities, and I was in tears after one activity because I was not understanding the English to therefore translate it into ASL. It was so hard, and the others in my group saw how much I had grown in the eight months (!!) we had worked together. Initially, I hardly ever raised my “Zoom” hand, but now I was at the point where I at least wanted to try, even if I didn’t get the message across. I was not so afraid to get in the sandbox. I really needed to “see” that message that I had improved so much in my skills because of my bravery.

Because interpreters are life-long learners, it can be hard to say, “Yes, I am an interpreter.” Do you remember when you were able to confidently use that label for yourself?

I am still not there! My first full-time staff interpreting role was when my Deaf friend pleaded with me to be a pre-K interpreter for two D/HH students. I was still in my ITP and not certified. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT, and have no regrets, but I still don’t feel like a terp since I haven’t finished my degree, and haven’t received my test results yet. All about those papes!

Please give a shout out to the interpreters you are grateful you know, have worked with, learned from, become friends with, etc.

Shoutout in no particular order to Dr. Erick R. Smith, Lasheria “Shay” Monroe, Fidel Torres, Shantel Morrison, Chris Perry, Rencia Gravesande, Paris McTizic, Tiffany Hill, David-Lee Raymond. For your dedication, pouring into me, laughs, pulling me out of my shell, and interventions.