They come from diverse backgrounds, some with no prior job experience and others with 30 or more years behind them. Court reporting students are recent high school grads, stay-at-home parents, and veterans. They have worked in education, public service, law, and business. These students each took a different path, but they came to the same place with a similar goal.
Up-to-Speed asked students from Arlington Career Institute in Grand Prairie, Texas; Brown College of Court Reporting in Atlanta, Ga.; and Simply Steno Court Reporting Program: What were you doing before you started court reporting school?
Arlington Career Institute
Alice Crawford: I was a development director for a small nonprofit organization. Working to help improve the quality of life for so many really afforded me a sense of contentment.
Autumn Clark: I was and still am working as a 911 emergency dispatcher.
Bartley Caitlin: Working as an office manager for a brand design company.
Jennifer Cook: I am still working a full-time job at a local municipality.
Brittany Creech: I worked for nine years as a legal assistant in a District Attorney’s office.
Eileen Peralez: I was a stay-at-home mom during the day with my 3 children under the age of four; then I would work part time from home from 5-10 p.m.
Hannah Pate: I was enrolled at a community college in my hometown and working as a receptionist at our District Attorney’s office.
Vanessa Carranza: I was and still am employed as a police officer.
Krystal Cook: I am a stay-at-home mom. Prior to that I was a soldier in the U.S. Army.
Samantha Crawford: Before I began school and during, I worked full-time at my local hospital and was a volunteer child advocate for the court.
Candice Radam: I am working full-time as a pharmacy technician.
Carmen Cortinas: I was taking classes towards a nursing degree.
Judith Gilmore: I had been teaching for 20+ years.
Brown College of Court Reporting
Michelle Munro: I am a paralegal, and I have been working for a real estate attorney for the past five years.
Geraldine Gomes: I am currently employed in the human resources field as an engagement specialist and I am an alcohol and drug counselor.
Donna Capolongo: I worked as an IT recruiter for about 30 years, the last 12 years of which I ran an IT staffing firm which I cofounded.
Kaitlin Thompson: Before I started school I was a staying home and taking care of my elderly grandmother.
Joy Cunningham: I worked in Mental Health as a Qualified Mental Healthcare Professional, as a Middle School English Teacher, and a part-time collage and jewelry artist.
Simply Steno
Aleece DePuey: I was in insurance sales and then worked in efficiency scheduling in construction.
Dominique LaJeunesse: I was working at eBay.
Alexandra Zuazo: Paralegal.
Brianna Carpenter: I was a college student studying Business Management and Human Resources at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Keri Hryc: Student.
Paula Henderson: I am a teacher with 22 years of experience.
Amy Quincey: Massage therapist.
