Donerererer! + A straight answer to "What's next?"

I received my diploma in the mail today. Upon reflection, I realize that I might have appreciated playing "Pomp and Circumstance" on my ipod while waiting in line at the post office :smile:

I've been asked a lot about "What's next?!" and "When are you going for your Masters?!" Now that the BA has been checked off in every conceivable way, I will give those who may care a straight answer (with some specifics left out for reasons of anonymity). Honestly, it's a lot and I don't expect anyone to read it all, but it's here for anyone who ever wants to ask me- I'll just give them a link to this thread :veryhappy:

v v The long part that I don't expect you to read v v​

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1) I'm currently working towards professional and skill certifications in a second field of employment. I should have two certs by summer and may go for more in the future. I may do this other line of work part time, freelance, or on a temporary basis as needed, but have no plans to stop working as an interpreter any time soon. This other job would be a way for me to make some money when the interpreting field is inevitably slow seasonally or due to the economy.

2) World Education University. I haven't forgotten about them. I want to try them out to see if their courses are any good. If they are, I'm interested in doing their Diploma in Paralegal Studies and their MBA. As an unaccredited school, it would mostly be about the knowledge gained than the credential received, but if the courses are good then I'd have no problem with putting the career diploma on a resume along with NALA certification and my BA. I have no specific plans to start working as a paralegal, but it would be nice to at least have that option OR that knowledge which might be valuable to some employer somewhere if I were ever needed something else to do for work. The MBA would just be for knowledge and I would only complete it if I really liked the courses.

3) There is a skilled manual trade that I find particularly interesting and have decided to take up learning it in my spare time and get certified in. I might never do it for work, but just like #1 and #2 it would be nice to know just in case I needed it. More than anything, this would be a hobby of mine since I really do find it fascinating and enjoy both what I am learning and doing it in practice.

4) Now that I have a Bachelor's degree, I can meet one of the (stringent!) paths of eligibility to sit for certification by the American Translator's Association. I already hold a top-level national certification in interpreting for one language, but I want to go for at least two of the languages that ATA certifies. From what I've read, their tests are daunting even for highly educated and experienced professionals, so this may be a long-term side project rather than a sprint to the finish. I first need to get my proficiency in the languages up to professional-level and will be looking for other types of validation (think: foreign equivalents of TOEFL) before I go that far.

5) Various interests and side projects. There are many, many, many of them, to be honest, way more than I can even add to this already insanely long list. There are some practical skills I am constantly working on here-and-there, such as auto mechanics, tailoring, computer stuff, and cooking. I don't dedicate specific time to learning these like I do with languages, I just do them as needed in my daily life and learn along the way. For example, this past week I made paella (freaking delicious!) for the first time and changed drum brake shoes for the first time (much harder than brake pads, which I've done plenty of times, but not monumentally difficult) and will be assembling a new PC soon, prompting me to learn how to use more than just the basic functions of linux. Other skills I'm working on are basically brain-workouts. I'd like to be both a memory athlete and a mental calculator, as well as a polyglot (this one I'm not very far away from- I just need to dedicate some more time to it!!!). Others are social, like learning how to project my voice and improving my skill level at salsa dancing.

6) I volunteer a LOT of time teaching the Bible to others. I want to dedicate more time to memorizing key scriptures to encourage people who are going through hard times, and for myself to make wiser decisions in my own life. I'd also like to spend some of my time off, especially during the summers, to do other types of volunteer work. The causes that touch my heart the most are homelessness and child abuse. I don't quite know what I can do for either, but I'd like to do something.
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^^ The long part that I don't expect you to read ^^​

So... that's it in a nutshell. There is more going on, but the one or two people who have read this through probably get the idea :veryhappy::veryhappy::veryhappy:

 

Many are unavailable. Most of the courses for the dipoma in Legal Studies are available. By the time I get around to it, either the whole programs will be available or the school will only be spoken of in the past tense.

Buuuut- I guess that means you read my memoir up there :hug: You really do care!!!

 

Come on, MC, you know we all read the whole darn thing. And we know that you know. And you know that.

And so do we.

 

Eh???