I decided I loved English when I was 8. My father, an English teacher at an academy in Guatemala, had enrolled us (me and my brother) to such academy, but he always asked not to be assigned as the teacher of the class we were in. I remember that my first day was very scary. I was the youngest student of my class; my classmates were 11 and 12, I was only 8.

I remember that the teacher said “Hello. How are you today? Open your books on page 12.” and I heard “Hello. Llsdfijwei? Kklsdfjiealif.” Did you understand what I just wrote? (I hope not haha!) So the same thing happened to me that day. I didn’t get more than the first word she said, but immediately I saw my classmates and started imitating them. That’s how I learned English: imitating and reacting to instructions. I didn’t have time to translate (in my mind) the instructions into Spanish nor had the time to ask–as most adults that are learning another language do–why X structure is like that and not different.

So I fell in love with the ‘simplicity’ of English and when I was 15 I decided I was becoming a translator, but Translation was not a “professional career” in Guatemala, it was a technical one. You studied two or three years at an Academy, then the Ministry of Education was the only institution which can certify you as a translator (a sworn translator) and that was pretty much it. Universities didn’t have Translation Studies as part of their educational offer. But it didn’t stop me.

So if I had to write a letter to my younger self, it would be something like this:

“Dear Alex,

I know you are happy, in spite of the difficult things you’ve lived the last three years, but don’t lose that good attitude, it will take you places you cannot imagine just now. Always be thankful to the people who will help you get through those difficult times. But embrace such times, they will make you stronger and you will discover the strong woman living in your heart.

You will receive a lot of offers from private universities to study (almost) whatever you want, but you will be always thinking about studying translation, and you know what? DO IT! You won’t regret studying a career that will ALWAYS make you learn. Through every document, through every project, through everything you translate you will learn a lot of things. You will be helping a lot of people to understand something that without your help they won’t be able to understand. Also, keep on learning how to use different CAT tools, even if you learn the basics (now you know nothing about them, but eventually you will start listening lots of things about CAT tools so keep your eyes and ears widely open.)

And remember: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Keep your friends close to you.

Here is a spoiler: Don’t worry about the results of your participation in the National Spelling Contest. You will be the runner-up. Your efforts won’t be in vain.

With all my love from the future (where you are translating…SURPRISE!).

Alex”