Along with being a Spanish major, I plan to pick up a minor in Sociology, receive a letter in social work and obtain certificates in both Interpreting Studies and Latin American Studies. I have quite a bit of work ahead of me, but all of these courses of study seem to intertwine/connect quite nicely. They are especially all related to the area of work I plan on being involved in in the future.
Of all of these courses of study, receiving a degree in Spanish and a certificate in Interpreting Studies is most important to me. However, the other course work I am most definitely interested in as well. With a degree in Spanish, I plan on becoming a court room interpreter to which a certificate in Interpreting Studies clearly relates. I believe interpreting in such a setting would be a great experience because essentially, I would be helping to give a voice to those who might otherwise be misunderstood/overlooked during legal proceedings. Therefore I would help ensure justice for members of the Spanish speaking community here in the United States. I also wouldn’t mind interpreting in other settings as well if the opportunities present themselves, however, interpreting in a court room would be my first choice.
I am also very much interested in social work/human services and this is why I have decided to minor in Sociology and receive a letter related to the area as well. When I first decided to major in Spanish I thought I was going to become a Spanish teacher. I like teaching (I helped teach elementary school students Spanish during a Spanish camp over the summer) and I’ve been told that I am be good at it. However, after having received two internships in the area of social work my aspirations for the future have changed. As much as I believe becoming a teacher would be a great, I have come to realize what my true passions are. Directly caring for others in need and helping them develop in various areas of their lives is incredibly rewarding for me. Not only does one get to see the direct results of their efforts while working one on one with another person in a human services job, but he/she is able to grow themselves as they are exposed to many life experiences, stories, and challenges.
I would like to become a social worker and/or working in a non-profit organization geared towards helping Spanish speaking communities in the U.S. or abroad in addition to becoming a certified interpreter, but we’ll see where life takes me. My primary focus is to become a court room interpreter because, like I had said before, believe it would be a great opportunity to give a voice to Spanish speakers during court room proceedings, but also because this would allow me to get a job related to my degree soon after I graduate. Many jobs in social work require employees to have master’s degrees first. Pursuing a master’s degree in social work would therefore be my secondary plan of action. Even if I do not become directly involved in social work, it is most definitely my desire to use the knowledge I will gain by minoring is Sociology and by obtaining a Latin American Studies Certificate by being of service to members of the Spanish speaking community through volunteer work in the U.S. or abroad. It is also my desire to be an advocate for the Latin American/Hispanic population within the U.S. who are often faced with racism and hardship due to the current systems of privilege set in place.