Here goes… my first blog post I have been waiting for… this whole year. Yes. The whole year. And, I can no longer procrastinate by giving excuses like 'My webpage is not done' (because it is), 'I have a writer’s block' (no, I don’t), or 'I don’t have anything to write about'. Actually, I have so much to write about that I don’t even know where to start.

I have always thought the first blog post should be somehow special. Easier said than done, right? But, I will try my best.

It so happens that pretty soon I will hit one year anniversary working as a Polish - and here I have to proudly add - Master certified court interpreter. It’s been almost 365 days, since I entered the overwhelming (that’s what I thought then) structure of a courthouse, feeling so apprehensive about my very first court assignment while wearing the tag of an official court interpreter.

Oh, boy! How proud I was of myself! Terrified even more. And, surprisingly enough, so unprepared. And, I am not talking about the technical aspect of my interpreting skills, since they happen to be very strong and solid, but what I was not prepared for is this whole process of domestication, if you will, of such a complete introvert - I definitely used to be. When I think about it right now, I laugh at myself thinking how stupid I must have been not to predict the shock I was about to get.

Yes. You read it right! The biggest obstacle in becoming a professional interpreter was the fact that I was so shy. After studying really hard, after spending endless hours on training various interpreting modes, after taking and passing those ridiculously difficult exams to be certified by the AOC, now I had, yet, another battle to fight – the bashful side of my personality. It hadn’t even crossed my mind before that such an innocuous character trait could pose such a big threat to becoming really successful in my profession.

I used to be the most self-conscious and self-aware person ever! Always avoiding events including a company of more than 1 person at a time. Even family gatherings amounted to a big social drama for me. I was always sitting quietly hoping nobody would ask me about anything. And… if somebody did, I would turn as red as a beetroot and mumble something under my nose just to discourage my potential interlocutor from having any interest in a chat with me. My shyness did not allow me to express my opinions, participate in discussions, be active in school, be sociable. What a miserable life!

Meanwhile, here I was… standing in front of the judge with some bundle of nerves (read: litigant) by my side and a bunch of other people - a court clerk, court officers, lawyers and who knows who else, present in the courtroom. To add even more fuel to the fire was this overwhelming awareness that everything said in the courtroom was to be recorded.

Oh, boy! I have to admit that those first court and other interpreting assignments gave me a lot of sleepless nights, anxiety and heart palpitations. I dreaded a situation of having to say 'Your Honor, the interpreter would like to have the last utterance repeated' or, God forbid, something like 'Your Honor, the interpreter is not familiar with the term used by the witness' (I hope, by the way, the latter will never happen to me – yeah, I know, wishful thinking). Even having to stand up with my right hand raised while being sworn in by a court clerk constituted a major reason for my self-conscious nature to shine. Not good at all, I thought.

And silly me, I thought it would last forever. Of course, it did not! I didn’t even notice when this overwhelming state of apprehension about public appearances got dispelled. And, it got dispelled for good.

Now, after a few months of real life practice in and outside of the courtroom, I proudly announce that I am a completely new person. And, self-consciousness and shyness would be the last two items on my personality traits list.

Believe me. What a transformation! Now, I literally cannot wait to get to my interpreting assignments - however formal, crowded or challenging they might be. Now, I take so much pride and exude so much confidence when stating my name for the protocol, I am such an outgoing person that sometimes I don’t even recognize myself. Finally, I am able to enter a room full of strangers, walk up to anybody I choose and start talking. I am not afraid to voice my opinions at workshops, seminars and conferences.

Well. Talking about conferences…. At my very first conference, the 55th ATA conference in Chicago last year, I felt like an idiot. I wanted to run away literally the minute I walked into the hotel lobby. I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin. I didn’t know how to behave, what to say, where to look or stand. Only thanks to my incessant perseverance and ambition to excel at everything I do in life, did I decide to stay.

Almost a year later, I walk into any meeting with a grin on my face, a strong feeling of confidence and no apprehension whatsoever. Same, you bet, applies to courtrooms, deposition rooms, or any place where my interpreting services are provided. And, although I am not a seasoned interpreter yet, I know the first step is behind me. And, I think I did a pretty good job overcoming my demons.

I have always loved my profession, but now I enjoy it even more because of the person it has made me become, i.e. an extrovert whose legs are not shaking upon entering the courtroom (just kidding) - a true professional fully aware of her valuable and much needed skills.

From my own experience, however, I can say that you have to be a somewhat outgoing person to fully succeed in this business and I am very thankful I have managed to embrace that so quickly.

Please feel free to share your experience with me.