Week 1 – Discussion Board 1

[Art Liebl]

In 250 words talk about yourself. Where do you live? What languages do you speak? Why have you decided to become an interpreter? Reply to 2 other students by Monday night.

[Johana Colon]

My name is Johana, and I currently live in Providence, Rhode Island with my husband and our two children, ages 15 and 9. Being a mother is my greatest joy, and my family is the center of my world. My husband and I have been together for 20 years and recently celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary. As a family, we love spending time together, especially traveling and exploring different countries and cultures.

For the past five years, I’ve worked at Rhode Island Hospital as a Patient Representative. In my role, I primarily assist Spanish-speaking patients with checking in, booking follow-up appointments, and making sure they feel welcomed and comfortable throughout the process. I take great pride in helping bridge the communication gap between patients and providers, and I’ve developed a strong passion for supporting the Latino community through my work.

My goal is to become a certified medical interpreter. I want to advocate for patients who face language barriers and help ensure they receive the care and respect they deserve. I believe that everyone should be able to communicate clearly and confidently when it comes to their health. Becoming a medical interpreter feels like the right next step for me—one that aligns with both my experience and my values.

I’m passionate about helping others and proud of the work I do. I’m excited to continue growing professionally while making a meaningful impact in my community.

[Art Liebl]

Hi Johana!

It is great to have you here. That is wonderful you already work in the hospital and no doubt are familiar with working in one. I admire your goal as to helping people and I can already see your passion.

I started interpreting and translating when I moved to Brazil in 1995 working in the graphics arts field/business field. I grew to have such a passion for communication that when I came back to the USA I stopped my work as a graphic arts technician (working on huge rotary presses) and moved into the translation and interpreting field. I achieved my medical interpreter certificate back in 2002. To be honest I was not very good at medical interpreting as I had a lot of unclear ideas as to anatomy and current medical science. But, with perseverance I can honestly say that I have learned tons and today feel comfortable in any and all medical setting. You will no doubt pass through the same experience, so, be patient with yourself; you are at the start of a marvelous career!

Good studies to you!

[Johana Colon]

Thank you so much for sharing your story — it’s incredibly inspiring. It’s clear that you’ve poured a lot of heart and dedication into your work, and I really admire how you embraced change and followed your passion for communication, even when it meant stepping away from a stable career. That takes a lot of courage.

Your journey into the medical interpreting world sounds both challenging and rewarding, and I appreciate the honesty about the early struggles. It’s encouraging to hear how far you’ve come — it gives me hope that with time, effort, and patience, I can grow the same way. I’ll definitely take your advice to heart and try to be kind to myself during this learning process.

Thanks again for the encouragement — it means a lot coming from someone who’s been in the field for so long.

[Art Liebl]

Thanks Johana! We all struggle at the beginning…that is why we need to keep pushing, studying and gaining knowledge!

[Author]

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