Hopin', Wishin', and Dreamin'...

Today I have begun to contact local court reporting firms, again, to see about any available positions in their production department. I have even offered myself as a volunteer in order to get into a firm and learn the ropes. At this point in my reporting journey, I just really, really want to be immersed in anything to do with reporting.

I also have the opportunity to sit in with an official at Adams County. I am really nervous about that and haven't yet set a date for it. I would prefer to get my CaseCat (that's the software I use for real time translation and transcript production) loaded and ready to go on my new laptop, as the one I am currently using for my school work has to have an incredibly loud fan in order for it to not blow up. So I have put doing that off, mostly because being in a huge court like that is a slightly terrifying prospect. However, I know I'll have to get over it and get in there.

I have also re-applied at the City of Golden for the position of court clerk. I have previously applied for this position and unfortunately failed the QWERTY typing test by 1% accuracy. I typed 50 wpm at 94% accuracy on a test that was about the landmass size and population density of Finland. Seriously, lots of numbers. I kept thinking, why can't I just hook up my steno machine? I am usually around the 60 wpm mark on a QWERTY, having spent my formative typing days playing Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, while other kids were doing normal things like playing real video games. I also left the typing test in a bit of a state, tears, that is. I really, really want this job.

Ha. I remember this screen so well. I was a racer, a winner, the best typist in my 8th grade class.

The court clerk position would offer my family so much more than we currently have from my shop job in the local mall.

On the school side of things, I have really tried to be more consistent with my practice this week. I am right at the cusp of getting out of my 160s for good. I have 2 literary and 2 QA tests to pass before I am officially in the 180 class.

I will pass these test this week. I will. I will also get this job.

There are my positive vibes being thrust out into the universe. Success is around the corner.

Secrets of the RPR revealed:

Not really. I didn't learn any real secrets. Sorry to disappoint. However, I did get to get a feel for what the RPR is like here in Denver as I volunteered my Saturday to help out with the big test.

The test is usually held at Prince Institute - Rocky Mountains, formerly Denver Academy of Court Reporting. It is a small campus that is very near and dear to my heart as that is where I began my journey of becoming, hopefully, one day, a kick-arse international reporter. However, this small and friendly campus is going to be closing its doors soon. Having a small amount of students on its roster, and a huge company like Stenograph owning the school, it wasn't bound to last long as a brick and mortar. There are some very dedicated and caring teachers that I will be sad to see go as a result of this change.

However, what I really wanted to write about was the experience of volunteering to help with the running of the RPR. If you are a student, I highly recommend that you do this should the opportunity present itself to you. I spent most of the day chatting with working reporters, a freelance firm owner, and CCRA and NCRA members. The sheer amount of knowledge, humorous stories, and advice that I received from spending a day hanging around with people I want to be like someday was incredible. That, alone, is worth any number of Saturdays. Not to mention, had I not been at the RPR today, I would have been stuck in the shop convincing customers to add on a pair of tights to their dress purchase. Doesn't that sound like as much fun as eating nails?

So, what to expect. If you're like me, and want to know what the environment is like because you're hoping to take the test in the fall, then read on, dear reader:

You will arrive at least 30 minutes early for the test. You will bring your ID, your confirmation e-mail from NCRA telling you all the important bits, especially your NCRA ID number (do not get this wrong, it causes all sorts of headaches for all involved), your writer (duh), a printer, and a USB drive. You may want a fan for your laptop, bottles of water, a power cord for your laptop, your own surge protector, and any other accessories that make writing on your machine work. Also, bring your own practice material that is already saved somewhere to your computer.

Don't count on a testing site to have wireless, or for that matter, any kind of internet connection. They don't always have that available depending on how the test is administered.

Also, this is very, very important: come in with a good attitude.

I observed quite the range of attitudes and demeanors in those taking the test today. I guarantee you, those who came in smiling, for the most part, walked out smiling.

You will have time to warm up and practice a bit beforehand. However, don't rely on that to be your only practice. Common sense here, people.

You may end up practicing in a different room than you test in. Be prepared to move your stuff to another room to test in, and yet another to transcribe in. Try to not let this be a bee in your bonnet. I know this test is make-or-break for a lot of people, but really, in real life you may have to switch rooms every once in a while, it's not the end of the world, I promise.

This time, the tests were on a previously prepared CD. I didn't go into the testing room, so I can't tell you what it's like in there. I imagine, since it is at my school, that it is a lot like it was taking a test while in school: You find a place, set up, and write to a dictation. All the while, trying to attempt to keep your hands from shaking, your mind from going blank, you know, all those lovely test anxiety symptoms we've all had. Then you will save to a USB, delete all testing material from every nook and cranny on your computer and machine, and head into a room to print your notes and transcribe whatever legs of the test you would like. 

You will then turn in your notes and transcripts in an envelope, or fill out a special paper stating that you are declining to transcribe. As with all tests, I urge you to transcribe. It's good to do it, even if you didn't get it. Hey, you never know, perhaps you were closer than you thought.

One of the testers had a good response to this: "I'm paying for this test, so no matter how awful it is, I'm making them (NCRA) grade it, make them earn my money."

Also, if you are a student and in your 200-225 classes. Take this test ASAP. Do it while you're in school. Everyone I spoke to couldn't stress enough the importance of getting this certification out of the way while still in school. The reason being, you are continually practicing and you are in test-mode anyway. You test every week in school, right? I do. I'm sure that this isn't really all that different from the 5 minute literary, jury charge, and testimony tests you are used to taking each week. It just costs more to take, and can lead to your potential job placement. Also, working reporters don't really have time to practice between writing at jobs and producing transcripts. Don't make it harder for yourself if you don't have to.

Now, I may sound very cavalier about this whole thing, and that may change later when I am actually the one taking the test. Who knows. I hope that I stay a bit more on the positive side about it, though. Really, ask yourselves, when it comes down to it, if you fail, what's the harm? Luckily, you don't have to pass all 3 legs at once anymore, you get another chance, you can take 3 times to pass, if needed.

Breathe. Remember to breathe. You're not a failure if you didn't get it this time. Breathe. You can do it. Breathe. Imagine yourself back in your 80 speeds, did you ever think you would be here getting ready to walk into the RPR test? Breathe. How many other people in the world can take a different language, write it on a piano-like machine, and do this verbatim at 225, 180, 200 words per minute? Let alone, 60 words per minute? BREATHE.

Those were my experiences and observations today at the RPR. I hope to see more of you lovely people in the fall when I'll be among the test takers, trying hard to remember to just breathe.

6 a.m. Quarterly Earnings Edit and... Out of coffee!

     I may have said, that I'm finishing up with the training for an editing position with Caption Colorado. If not, now I have. It is the best way I could find to get some portion of any limb; foot, hand, finger, in with the nation's largest captioning company while still in school.
    
     One Craigslist ad response, quick interview and test to gauge my knowledge on the difference between; their, they're, and there, a boiling hot and stuffy 8 hour day of training (unpaid), two lengthy tests on the Thomson-Reuter's style guide, and two practice calls to be edited, and there I was, awake at the most un-Godly hour imaginable with no more coffee.
    
     What lovely bit of experience can bring a girl, who thrives on at least 10 hours of sleep, out to greet the sunrise? How about an hour long earnings call for a furniture company? Not exciting enough for you? I'm shocked. (Insert feigned surprise.)
   
      Luckily for me, I don't really have to listen to the content of the call as it is happening. My only concern is to get, verbatim, all of the words stated while driving the media player with a pedal, whose constant jerks to play or stop the audio remind me of the few times I attempted to drive a manual vehicle. I drive an automatic. Enough said.
    
     A one hour call takes me approximately 3.5 hours to edit. That is with an outstanding captioner paving the way for me. I was so nervous this morning that I almost vurped (see Wreck-It-Ralph if you would like to better understand that reference). I had a bit of trouble figuring out just where to yell into my computer my information to the conference operator that would allow me access to the conference. Three tries later, I was groggily listening to the eloquent hold music that was obviously Beethoven, as the thunderous swell of instruments rose to full force in order to wake my tired arse up. This was just in the nick of time as the call had begun.
    
     After 5 minutes of audio has been recorded the editors, me, get the transcript flowing onto the computer screen. And we're off to edit away. Before the call even begins I have to pull up information about the company who is holding the conference. I know that captioners and reporters have to really research their jobs beforehand, I don't. I just have to make sure the product names, employee and analyst names, and industry specific terms are all correctly written. This really only takes a few minutes of popping back and forth from Google to the company's press release and website.
    
     In order for this job to be worth the amount of time spent to produce a transcript, I have to get to Tier 1, which is tops in editing and turnaround time. In order to do that, I have to have a Q-score (Q for Quality, it's the letter of the week) of 23. My first Q-score from the first practice file was 356! My second, 340. And today, well it was 113. That's f---ing improvement!
    
     I have another of the same type of call to edit at the same un-Godly hour tomorrow. I am enjoying learning how to produce an outstanding transcript, but I am not sure if I will be able to hang on to this position too much beyond the training period. It is an argument I am weighing heavily in my head.
    
     Reasons to do it:
          - It's Caption Colorado.
          - Great experience in editing financial calls.
          - Some research and prep experience.
          - Can be done around my schedule.
          -  Great dictionary building references.
     Reasons not to do it:
          - It is taking away from time I would otherwise have to speed build.
          - My husband may have a nervous breakdown as a result of not having a break from entertaining two lovely little ladies aged 3 and 5.
          - I think all I do is work, school, work, school, rinse, repeat.

This was last summer, actually, but it is one of my favorite pics.

          - My daughter just said to me, today, "We don't usually get any time together and I like having time with you mommy." 
   
      Rule number one, which I put down myself as I began this journey towards becoming a court reporter: Just as long as it doesn't take away from my being involved in my daughters' lives. That was actually singular possessive at the time the rule was written, as I only had one daughter. It has since been revised to incorporate both little lovelies.
   
      If I only had the editing gig and school, it would be ideal. However, with the added responsibility of my retail job, I just don't know if this will work out for the best for all involved.
    
     So I will finish training and put down my availability for the next week, little as that may be, and go from there. If I can get a call or two a quarter, I am a happy soon-to-be stenographer.
    
     As always, onwards and upwards.

How far I have come and how lazily I have left this blog unattended to:

Here I am embarking on year 3 of my court reporting education and I am only in 160/180 speeds. I say only as if it has been a long, arduous, uphill climb to get here and as though I had expected to be anywhere further along than I am now. Well, you're damn right, I did. I thought I would be well on my way to starting a fruitful career as a court reporter. Perhaps, not the glamorous life of an international reporter quite yet, but definitely doing a few depos or subbing for officials. SOMETHING. Anyway, I am pretty much guaranteed to be fully into the 180 class within the first 2 weeks of this quarter. Which, by the way, are now only a mere 10 weeks long. There have been a lot of changes since I last wrote anything on this blog at all.

Changes at school: My school is no longer called DACR it is PIRM (Prince Institute Rocky Mountains) and is owned by Stenograph. I have a minimum of 10 hours per week of practice to get in in order to pass at midterm. I am still online. I am actually enjoying my speed building teacher as she believes in challenging us with live dictation every week.

Changes in my court reporting aspirations: I found a whole online community of lovely reporters and students of stenography through Facebook and some other sites and have begun to feel less like the creepy lady that hides out behind a computer screen all by herself, speaking and reading some kind of language no one can really understand (bringing back the Stenglish!). I also found an amazing reporter named Jade King (you must read her blog: http://jadeluxe.wordpress.com/) as it is much more entertaining than this one. Also, she is one rocking stenographer and I would give my left leg to have a career similar to hers one day. I want to be an international reporter. I really, really, do. I still really want to do anything that will land me a cottage somewhere in England.

Changes in everyday life: Not many. My daughters are 3 and 5 now and are the smartest, loveliest, and sometimes most exhausting things in the world. My husband is still making increasingly more and more beautiful guitars as time has gone on. I'm still a shop girl, but I also get to be an editor of quarterly financial calls for Caption Colorado. Yes, I wrote that correctly, Caption Colorado! It's like the mailroom or the gofer bit of working for Caption Colorado ( I love throwing that in there). However, it is a foot in the door. Well, hopefully. Right now it really feels like a finger in the door: painful but it is holding a crack of hope open.

So there is an update thus far. Spring is beginning to come forth and here I sit with a blizzard trying to force itself upon us. Sorry to my 2 readers who may have been wondering if I had fallen off of the face of the Earth, you know there are maps and such to prove it's round; no need to worry.

I will attempt, going forward, to keep up with this on a more regular basis. Off to tea, a book, and some much needed rest.

Is Anyone Still There?

Wow. It has been a LONG time since I have posted anything here. I would be surprised if anyone actually read this. I am still trudging along on my journey toward becoming a court reporter. I am now, amazingly, in my 120 wpm speeds. I have a little over a year to finish my schooling in order to receive my degree. I feel that I have come a long way. However, 225 wpm still seems like it is quite a way off from now.

I am currently trying to recapture the fire I once had in my youth to get things done, to change myself, to make a difference in one person's life who is not immediately related to me.

Onward and upward!

Unsatisfactory

That's right, that is my grade in my 100s speed class as of our midterms. Lovely. It is due to my inconsistent and inadequate amount of practice time in order to be successful. A giant JOG ON to you teacher! Teacher who wastes an hour of my could-be-practice-time a week to give me dictations at 60 and 80 words per minute. To sit there and trivia quiz me on the meaning of words that will probably never come up in court, or come up very rarely. For that, I have a dictionary. Teacher who doesn't even know how to properly correct a symbol in CaseCatalyst.

Now, that is out of my system, yes, I could probably practice a little bit more. If I was able to wake up at 4 a.m. and squeeze in that extra hour. However, I am tired at 4 a.m. from not being able to sleep because my zombie foot is ailing me so badly, and my 18 month old is waking up at all hours from having a cold and teething. Not to mention, that I am staying up extra late to practice at night, as that is the only time I have been able to find.
"Your grade is determined on your passing tests, so there is still time to turn it around..." Six weeks. I need to pass 6 tests (two in each category, Jury Charge, Literary, and QA). Unless I am blessed with a TimeTurner (HP I want you to be real), that ain't gonna happen.

I will give it an honest-to-goodness go in the next six weeks, if I don't pass any tests, I may have to evaluate discontinuing the program. I need more time, I don't really have it, I need to be on ground with teachers that are there to really help you, I can't put my girls in daycare. I want so badly to go back to school for speed classes. To be where there is encouragement and healthy competition, where the teachers know what they are doing and actually dictate to you at your speed and higher.

"Do You REALLY want it?" asked the Universe.

I was once told by a fairly wise person, that the Universe always throws you challenges when you begin achieveing a new goal, as if to see how badly you are willing to fight to make it. Well, honestly I am just about to throw in the towel. I was doing so well in court reporting school, acing all of my classes and getting through my speeds at half of the time required. Then I had to start staying home because of lack of child care for our girls. Okay. Fine. I love being with them more. There was no realistic time to get my school work done. I was still hanging on and doing well in my academics, but slacking in my speed building.

Then I got a schedule worked out around all the craziness here, and think I am doing fairly well getting back on track. "HA HA", laughs the Universe. Go sprain your ankle and foot, and see how well you feel to get school work done and take care of your house and children. Oh, and you will have to call in to work after having to use all of your savings to pay bills and medical costs... MU WAH HA HA...

Here I am bitterly sitting with my zombie looking foot that is slowly swelling to the size of a very large squash, writing on my Steno machine... YES I want it, Mr. Universe!