In the workforce, there are people who go to work with the sole purpose of receiving a paycheck. On the other hand, there are many who go to work, not for the paycheck, but for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, and interpreters are prime examples of those who value the impact they make more than what they take home in their paycheck.
With every profession, there are standards to uphold and rules to follow. Medical Interpreting is no exception. The Medical Interpreting field has a solid foundation, based on a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. But, apart from the standards and rules, there is the human side to our profession. As Interpreters, we have fought to have steady work with a liveable wage. However, it is not the quantity of work or the hourly wage, but rather, the quality of our work that matters most. We have even come together to fight for additional legislation that promises better language access, for those whose primary language is not English. Yes, we are professionals. But, we are human first.