Nasren Miah, a student at Plaza College in Queens, N.Y., is headed to the NCRA Conference & Expo this month thanks to a free registration from the NCRA Student/Teacher Committee and a Christine Phipps Family Foundation student scholarship. “I know I’m going to be coming back from the Conference with so much more knowledge and motivation to help me finish school and get my career started,” she says.
UTS | Why court reporting?
NM | I’ve held jobs from food service to retail and at the present moment I work as a security guard while I’m in school. One day I accompanied a friend of mine to a court appointment, and that day I noticed the court reporter. I’ve always held an interest in learning about our judicial system and how everything works, considering it’s what holds our society together, but I never had an interest really in being a lawyer or anything like that. So, when I went home, I looked into court reporting, and it seemed like the perfect job for me. I did my research, applied for school, and now about three years later I’m on my way to being an official court reporter. It’s been challenging but also one of the most fulfilling journeys I’ve ever been on, and the court reporting community has been very supportive.
UTS | What do you love about stenography?
NM | I believe it is truly a timeless skill. No matter what, humans will want to keep a record of things and what’s going on at the current moment, and stenography is one of the reasons we have an understanding of human history.
UTS | What does NCRA membership mean to you?
NM | Having an NCRA membership is one of the greatest tools that a student and new reporter can have. They are really willing to help anyone and provide all the resources you can possibly need to succeed in this field.
UTS | What are you most looking forward to at the NCRA Conference & Expo in Louisville, Ky., next month?
NM | I’m interested in attending the Conference because I know there is so much to learn as a student. I am looking forward to meeting experienced reporters and students who are on a similar path as me. I am also really looking forward to hearing other people’s experiences in the court reporting field and the advice they have to share for newer reporters to succeed. I’m just so excited to be on this journey and am so thankful to NCRA for being a part of this journey with me and guiding me through.
UTS | What would you say to someone who is considering a career in court reporting or captioning?
NM | I would tell anybody who has an interest in court reporting and captioning that it is one of the most challenging things you can do but also one of the most fulfilling. It will open up doors and put you in places and next to people that you would never have dreamed possible.
UTS | Do you have a mentor?
NM | At the moment, I do not have a mentor, but I am hoping to maybe meet one when I attend the Conference.
UTS | What is a piece of advice you have received that has had a significant impact on your life or career?
NM | One of the most significant pieces of advice I received is to always show up with your A game no matter what. No matter how you’re feeling that day or what the circumstances are, you must always keep your head high and remain focused. Don’t ever take your eyes off the goal.
UTS | What is your dream job/where do you see yourself in five years?
NM | My dream job is to be an official court reporter/stenographer who will be able to experience the most this field can offer.
UTS | Is there anything else you would like to share?
NM | I hope everyone who is pursuing this career succeeds in all of their endeavors and is able to achieve their dreams.
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