Katherine Gomes - George brown college

Katherine Gomes graduated from the School of Deaf and Deafblind Studies in 2003. Katherine is talking about the unique program at George Brown College - ASL to English Interpreter Program. She talks about professors who helped her to become interpreter, as well as classmates that she is still friends with, because they share such an amazing experience. Katherine also talks about placement opportunities, for example some of her placements were in the deaf university in the United States. Katherine Gomes now is working in George Brown College as interpreter. She describes her every day is so much more than just a job. She says, that it's a privilege and an honour to be in people's live and to facilitate communication between people who normally would not be able to do so.

When I was in University, um, I was actually volunteering in the Deaf community, because I knew that at some point in my life, I wanted to work with the deaf children. That was my original goal. My mom actually met an interpreter, and she told my mom about this program, this interpreting program that had just, uh, actually opened up at George Brown College. I decided to apply right there and then, because the, the beauty of interpreting is that, it's so, it's just so unique, and it's, it's such an interesting field, and you're constantly learning, and I, I loved that aspect of it. My name is Katherine Gomes. Um, I studied in the ASL to English Interpreter Program uh, from 2000 to 2003. When I think about the faculty within the Interpreting Program at George Brown College, uh, it's really hard for me to express how thankful I am to them. They... were the starting point, and made me the interpreter I am today. They shared their language, their culture, and their community with me. And without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. Some of the classmates I'm still good friends with to this day, and I still see on a regular basis, because we shared something that was just so special, that, during our time in school. Another amazing thing about George Brown College is their placement opportunities. I had the fortunate opportunity to be able to go to the States to do, um, some of my placement in, uh, one of the deaf universities there, which was such an amazing experience. I've never experienced anything like it before. And now, ah, after being in the profession for almost ten years, I'm working full time as an interpreter. Um, I'm actually staff at George Brown College. What I do every day is so much more than just a job. It's a privilege, it's an honour to be in people's lives and to facilitate communication between people who normally wouldn't be able to do so. I feel so privileged every day. It's such a rewarding career.