Commentary (September 2022):

My mind has been spinning for the last few days regarding some social media posts that were less than encouraging to the group in which they were directed. The following are my thoughts in no particular order of importance. I am not asking for "likes" or an argument, just some things that we as a profession and a country need to consider.

In many professions there are mentors, some that are formal some that are not, but nevertheless there are experienced people that lift up and mentor "newbies." As a new interpreter there was a fellow interpreter who willingly and gladly took me under her wing and all she asked in return was that I "pass it on." Every time I call or texted her to thank her she always said the same thing, "You're welcome and now pass it on." She never asked for anything in return. No matter how many mistakes I made she NEVER put me down, sure her criticisms could be harsh but she never pulled rank, never told me that I "hadn't paid my dues yet," If she said something that hurt my ego I new I could talk to her about it. No gossip or smack talk from either one of us.

Flash forward to when I mentored, sometimes I could be harsh but I always tried to be fair. There were some that welcomed that and others who didn't, no worries though because my goal was to "pass it on" and see more higher qualified interpreters in our schools.

Horizontal violence was never in my wheelhouse.

There are "newbies" that think they know more because they just graduated and have all of the latest information and theories. Hmmm...OK. There are seasoned interpreters who look down on newbies because they have no experience. Hmmm...OK. And there are A LOT more scenarios that play out within our profession, but WHY can some of us be so hurtful, condescending, and unprofessional.

Some people know what I am about to say and others don't but here goes anyway...I had a 7 year period that started with a school shooting and ended with a divorce. I wasn't always happy, I wasn't always nice, and I did hope that people would extend me some grace because it took everything inside of me to get up, show up, and not be that hurt person that hurt people. Within the profession I found people that would hold me as I cried, they would send me encouraging texts, and many brought me meals when I had to deal with a second rare brain tumor just two years into what would be 7 years of hell. Yet there were others that would accuse me "so defensive" and didn't want to even be around me for whatever reasons they could think of. Hmmm...Ok, fair enough, I was playing a game of human whack-a-mole and just trying to survive.

Edit (March 2023):

I am not sure where I was going with this when I started writing this several months ago, and I know it was not directed at any one person or even group of people, nonetheless I can't remember what my ultimate point was but I will try to write a befitting conclusion.

Horizontal violence, gossip, back stabbing, bullying, whatever name you want to attach to it is never ok. I was talking to a new friend late into the night last night/this morning, this new friend is a very successful business owner in the OKC area and at the center of the business philosophy and plan is respect for others.  When did we stop respecting others and start blaming others for our shortcomings? When did bullying, in all its iterations, become acceptable? Why is hate so prevalent? Why is yelling your opinion in the face of someone you disagree with the new default?

As I said, I don't recall where I was going when I started writing this and I assure you that I am not directing this in any one direction while spinning a compass to see where true north is.  Since I had already titled this "Commentary" I will assume that was what was on my mind.