Deidre Kelly works as an interpreter on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, providing simultaneous interpretation from French into English at committee meetings, press conferences, caucus meetings and sittings of the Senate and the House of Commons.

What brought you to UPEI? Why did you choose to study here?

I’m from Kingston, Prince Edward Island, and UPEI offered me a full-tuition scholarship when I graduated high school. I knew that I would likely do more than one degree, so the prospect of finishing my undergrad debt-free was very appealing. I lived at home and was able to set aside money for language immersions overseas.
 

What do you find unique and interesting about UPEI’s French and Spanish programs?

I initially started out as a chemistry student but quickly realized that it wasn’t a good fit. At the same time, I was pursuing a French minor and really enjoying it, and I started Spanish classes too. I realized that I felt more at home in those classes, so I made the switch and never looked back. During my years in the department, I studied French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Latin.

Studying modern languages felt like a whole new world opening at my feet. I wasn’t especially worldly at that stage of my life, and I can remember being fascinated by the new perspectives and ways of thinking. I was constantly being pushed out of my comfort zone, and that resulted in a lot of personal growth. The professors in the department really fostered my sense of curiosity and encouraged me to strengthen my abilities through travel.

What kinds of support did you receive during your time here from UPEI students, staff, and faculty members?

The department provided me with work as a part-time laboratory assistant, and I also worked as a research assistant for Dr. Doreley Coll. This work was relevant to my field of study and helped cover my living expenses at the time. Furthermore, Dr. Scott Lee encouraged me to apply to work as an English teaching assistant in France after I graduated from UPEI. Without that experience, I never would have been able to become an interpreter. I also studied Spanish abroad in Salamanca, Spain, and Montevideo, Uruguay. Both experiences helped me to improve my Spanish language skills.

"Studying modern languages felt like a whole new world opening at my feet. I wasn’t especially worldly at that stage of my life, and I can remember being fascinated by the new perspectives and ways of thinking. I was constantly being pushed out of my comfort zone, and that resulted in a lot of personal growth. The professors in the department really fostered my sense of curiosity and encouraged me to strengthen my abilities through travel."

What's unique about UPEI, and Prince Edward Island, in your experience?

I enjoyed the small, friendly campus. It was somewhat of an extension of high school for me. I saw a lot of the same faces but some new ones as well. When I finished high school, I wasn’t ready to move to a new city yet. I really benefited from my time at UPEI and did a lot of growing up there, which meant that I was better prepared when I did spread my wings and move off-Island. My UPEI education was the foundation that I built on to achieve the language skills required of an interpreter. It helped spark my curiosity and foster a love of life-long learning, qualities that I continue to carry though my daily life.

What would you tell a high school student considering your program?

Go for it! Keep an open mind and maintain a sense of humour because learning new languages can be humbling and sometimes hilarious. But it is such an asset to have an additional language on your résumé. It can really open doors in ways you might never have expected.

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