As my time at UMass comes to a close, I have begun to ask professors for recommendation letters to send to grad schools. As a Spanish major, the professors that know me best are those who teach within the Spanish Department, and they have asked me how my major ties to my desire to earn my Master of Social Work. My goal to become a LICSW is tied in every way to the pursuit of my Spanish major over the last 6 semesters. When I first started the major, it was because I had a talent for it, and I didn’t really know where it would lead me. I grew to love it, and eventually made the goal to become a medical interpreter. It seemed like a natural choice, given my experience with the healthcare system as a result of my mother’s ALS and that, as anyone that knows me knows, I love people and interacting with those from all different backgrounds and walks of life. However, as a result of taking the first course required for the Interpreting Certificate here at UMass as well as my time studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I realized that medical interpreting may be too restricting of my personality. I began to consider what career I could pursue where I would have more professional freedom to exercise my compassion and investment in the well-being of others, Continue reading →