I did it!

When I was 10 years old I saw an interpreter at my church. I thought Sign Language looked like the coolest thing to ever learn!

"Daddy! I want to learn how to do that!"

So my parents bought my "The Joy of Signing" and because I was home schooled, I was able to spend lots of time flipping through the book and learning words!

I loved it and for a couple years I studied this book, bought some other ASL CD-ROMs and met a very nice Deaf couple in our town who were very patient :)

When I was 13 years old my parents realized that my obsession with ASL was not going away and that a book was not going to suffice.

"Mom, wouldn't it be so cool to interpret for the President of the United States!"

"Mom, I love signing music, wouldn't it be awesome to interpret for Jaci Velasquez?!" (she was my fave at the time) hahaha

"Mom, Wouldn't it be SO COOL to be a NATIONALLY CERTIFIED INTERPRETER?!"

So they called Mott Community College in Flint, MI and explained our situation. The head of the department was willing to meet with me and she decided I could start taking classes there! I was thrilled! So mom and dad took turns driving me to Flint about twice a week for almost 4 years!

~~~~~Fast Forward to now~~~~~~~

I graduated Bethel this past May and on June 30th I took my National Certification Test (NIC).

Yesterday I got the good news...I passed! Holy Crap! Could this really be true?! I feel like such an adult....even though I am as giddy as a little kid on Christmas morning! I've wanted this for 10 years!!

{{Check it out! Just type in my name!}}

I have to give HUGE amounts of thanks to my Parents, Jim & Connie Sherrill, Stevie Naeyaert, all my BC profs, all the wonderful terp friends and deaf friends I have known over the years, and Jesus of course! Who has been my one true rock and leader and gave me the strength to go on!

Thank you!!!

I am so excited to see where this new door will lead me to and I can't wait to continue learning from and working with mentors and other Minnesota Terps!

And even though I haven't listened to Jaci Velasquez in about 7 years....maybe one day I'll get to interpret for the President!