Reporting for the "real world"

(DISCLAIMER: PICTURES TO COME SOON...THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO THE STATION HAS SLOWED DOWN MY PROCESS!)


After my quick "break" from reporting between being cleared and my shifts at KOMU, I'm right back at it.

For my first VO Patrol shift I went to the Rural Educational Interpreter Skill Enhancement Training. It's a three week workshop paid for by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The whole event is free for the participants, including meals and housing.

The program is for sign language interpreters from rural areas. Interpreters who work in those rural areas often don't have access to the information they need to help their students. Many of the interpreters have never received formal training and only know sign language through church or learning at home.

I think it's a really great idea, but also wonder if people who lack formal training should be trusted with interpreting information that is so vital.

The teacher of the event, Melanie McKay-Cody says there is no doubt that there are things she missed out on in school because of the inability of someone to translate the information to her.

To find out more about the program check out my story here.

It really made me have a newfound appreciation for the deaf culture. This week I had been complaining because my ear was clogged, and I couldn't hear well out of it. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to not hear all the time. Especially after watching one of the sessions of the seminar.

The class and all communication were done in sign language. It made me feel two things.

One: I really want to learn sign language. Because they are using their bodies and actions to speak, everything is more dramatic and acted out, kind of like when you play charades. I almost feel as if you can express some things better with sign language than you could with words.

Two: I felt really insecure. A whole class was going on, people were learning and communicating, and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying. I imagine it's the same as if you were around people speaking any foreign language to you...and for deaf people without interpreters, that's how life feels all the time.

It definitely opened my eyes and made me realize I take for granted something that is such a big part of life, yet not everybody has.

My second VO Patrol shift was the next day!

I did a story about the seven thousand dollars State Farm Insurance is giving high schools in Boone and Cass Counties to pay for The Stock Market Game.

I'll stop for a moment, those of you from Missouri are probably saying Boone and Cass? Why those two? Sadly, I don't know the answer to this, but if I find out I will update.

Read about the story and game here. (There's also a link to a video for the Missouri Stock Market Game on the story page!)

This event was a little different to cover than others. I had to leave lab early to get there (sad). It was held at the Peach Tree in Columbia. When I first got there, I thought I was in the wrong place because all I could find was a huge banquet room full of women listening to a man giving an empowering speech. It seemed to me like some mass community version of a sorority. I knew this couldn't be right. As all of the women left I heard them saying things like, "That was so inspiring" and "I want to eat healthy and go workout right now." (...maybe I should have gone)

After some confusion and a few phone calls, I found the room I was supposed to be in.

The check presentation was part of a workshop for high school finance teachers. The Missouri Council on Economic Education was hosting a workshop for finance teachers from high schools around Mid-Missouri.

It was interesting to see the teacher's response to The Stock Market Game and great to see that the money will help them. I think that they all believe that the game is a better way to teach students effectively and the money will help students who otherwise wouldn't get to participate a chance to play.

We played a version of this game in class when I was in fifth grade, but not this "real" version where students are competing against each other and winning awards.

That's all for now folks!