"Passion is the fuel behind a successful career." - Meg Whitman

Working is easy when you love what you do. On top of my full-time job, I spend hours of my free time doing translation projects. I always feel a little sad when I am working on a document and I look at the time and it's 2 o'clock in the morning and it's probably time for me to go to bed.

I am so blessed not only to have found my passion, but also to have found a place to work in which I feel happy, safe, supported, and motivated. I love working for a school district. It is so satisfying to make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis. Plus, I can also enjoy some amazing perks too, such as getting nine weeks of vacation a year! My summer break started today, and while I am planning on getting some rest and enjoying my time off, I also want to make sure I am productive these next six weeks.

One of my goals is to continue working hard in Upwork. I created an account earlier this year and I love the platform. I've had quite a handful of clients at this point, and I consider about half of them to be long-term clients since they reach out on a regular basis with new translation requests. I hope to get a few more contracts so I can stay busy.

I also got a part-time summer position with the Alliance Française. I have been a member at the Alliance since 2020. For those of you who do not know, the Alliance Française is a non-profit organization that offers French lessons to people of all ages. It also organizes incredible cultural activities and events. For example, a few students traveled to Dijon just last month! I am really excited to help the Alliance with marketing projects, translations, and any other administrative support that they might need this summer.

I plan on reading a few books. I have already read four books this year, but there are a few others that have caught my eye and I want to get to them soon. One of my goals (I guess it was a New Year's Resolution, but I don't like to call them that) is to read two books in English, two books in Spanish, and two books in French. At this rate though, I might be able to do three or four per language! We shall see.

Speaking of books, I have recently been given the opportunity to translate one from English to Spanish! This is the first time I get hired to translate a book and I am very excited. The author is my colleague and friend Kevin O'Rourke. Kevin was born in Washington D.C. and later moved to San Antonio, Texas. He developed an interest in Mexico and its language when he was a young adult and decided to sign up for Spanish classes. He ended up falling in love with his Spanish teacher's daughter, who was born and raised in Mexico City. After the love of his life was unable to renew her visa to come back to the United States, Kevin made the tough (or easy, you will have to ask him) decision to leave everything behind and move to Mexico City. His book reflects his passion for life, love for new cultures, and extraordinary personal growth. His story touched me deeply because I lived in Mexico City for a very long time and, like him, I also left my home country to create a life somewhere new. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to translate his autobiography.

Lastly, I want to continue maximizing my membership with the ATA. I continuously network and reach out to fellow members and successful professionals. My ultimate goal is to get certified in all my language combinations. Therefore, I want to start preparing myself for the rigorous ATA exam. My plan this summer is to take the practice test to see if I am ready for the official exam.

Of course, I will also make time this summer to do my favorite hobbies, which include lifting weights, yoga, and painting.

And you? What are you up to this summer?