My Dream Job

​‘Job’ probably isn’t the right word for this post. I guess dream career would be better. Today I want to talk to you about my dreams for my future career path, why I want to do it, and how I plan to get there. Today I want to talk about how I will become a BSL interpreter. 

I have always loved languages since I was small. I grew up with my mum speaking a mix of English and French (she wasn’t French, she just thought it was good to use both so I learnt more French), and I loved it. I took French up until GCSE level (age 16), and I did German for a while too, even at GCSE. I didn’t do brilliant on those exams because sadly I got the two mixed up and spoke French in my German oral and visa versa! But I loved them both. 

For a while I also learnt Braille, though I didn’t get too far as school got in the way. I then fell upon sign language and loved it from the start. I quickly taught myself basic phrases such as ‘my name is’ and the Alphabet. When I went to university I was lucky enough to have a course where BSL was a part of the curriculum, I had a lot of ups and downs at uni and ultimately I left the course. However, this didn’t waver my love. 

I got involved with events back home. I signed at the Trans Pride event, and again at the Trans Day of Remembrance event. I have done both of these two years running now, and my confidence has slowly gone up. 

I haven’t practiced as much as I should have though. This is my own fault and something I know I need to improve on from here on out.

I spoke about my goal to complete my level 1 by the end of 2017 in my goal setting post a few weeks ago. That is still my plan, and I am slowly moving forward with it. Another thing I’d like to do is work alongside Fran, an interpreter I have signed with for all of the things I mentioned before. I plan to meet with her and discuss progress and terminology within the trans community so we could work out signs. 

I mentioned wanting to be an interpreter, but I didn’t go into the full extent of my dream career. The reason I am not fighting to do all of my BSL at once is because, alongside it, I am doing training in mental health. My dream is to be a BSL interpreter for Trans° people with ill mental health. 

I hope to be able to help people with things such as appointments, day to day activities, and the like, who need support from a BSL interpreter. I would also like to work expressly with the trans° community as I know, certainly in Brighton, there are very few Trans° people who can sign professionally. This means that cis people are required to go into trans exclusive space, which can be very problematic for the space, no matter how trans aware the person may be. 

I also need to look into business courses, as the role would be self employed. The problem is that I am on a low budget and a fair few of these courses cost money. 

I shall not be detered though. I am going to get there, and I will reach my goal. One day I shall be able to do the job I want for life, but for now, I am working towards it. 

° By Trans I mean those who identify in any way away from the gender they were assigned at birth. Including non-binary folk. 

What is your dream job? Are you working towards it? Let me know in the comments, I will definitely reply!