What led you to the language industry and your current position?
I have always been passionate about foreign languages, especially English. When I was in Grade 11 in 2004, the US marines came to Haiti following political unrest, and a lot of my friends who knew English were hired as interpreters. So, that is exactly when I felt the need to learn English to become an interpreter, as well.
Following the 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti, a lot of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and companies with English-speaking staff came to help the devastated country. Even though I did not land a job in 2004 as an interpreter, I managed to find one in 2010. After this experience as an interpreter, I knew that I wanted to be in the language industry because I noticed there was a lack of qualified linguists. As I have always dreamt of doing freelancing, my current position as a freelance translator has made it possible.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I enjoy the most about my work is the fact that I am able to make an impressive impact by making content that was only in English available to Haitian Creole speakers — which is aligned with my motto, “Helping those from English-speaking countries communicate with my Haitian folks” — all while being a regular person. I also love the fact that I am able to collaborate with different people from all over the globe at different agencies while being in the comfort of my home and pajamas.