Melanie Page

What is your name?

This is an anonymous response.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

No response.

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

Not related at all. I wanted to be a tattoo artist!

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

No response.

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

No response.

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 have been in the field since 1981. I had a deaf friend, and she suggested I become an interpreter, and I didn’t even know what that was. I eventually found the Connecticut Commission for the Deaf and was evaluated and earned a Provisional Permit. I then took a class in Code of Ethics and boldly walked into the world as an interpreter!

It was not until recently that I realized I was a job coach for about three years before I was actually an interpreter. After about six years I became certified and was actually interpreting.

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

When I began interpreting, I was taught by Jonnie Duncan. She was a wonderful teacher, a Coda, an interpreter, and I was so grateful for her guidance so many years ago.

Today, I am very fortunate to work some amazing DIs here in Rochester. I learn from them every time we work together!