Student Spotlight

A smiling woman with long curly dark hair and black-rimmed glasses, wearing a black zip-up fleece jacket. She is standing indoors in front of a wall made of horizontal wooden panels.
Alicia
Nolan
Batavia
New York
ASL-English Interpretation

Practicum Place of Work:
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester, New York

Role

I work with staff interpreters at Strong Hospital, providing interpreting services for the Deaf community both onsite and across UR Medicine locations in Rochester, covering everything from routine visits to emergency care and labor and delivery.

How has practicum helped you grow as an interpreter?

Practicum has provided me with real-world experiences that bring the ethical frameworks we study to life, offering hands-on opportunities to apply interpretation skills and engage with the Deaf community in meaningful, impactful ways. Working alongside experienced interpreters has allowed me to observe how they navigate complex, high-stakes situations and to engage in post-assignment discussions that deepen my understanding of their thought processes and decision-making rationale.

What has been your most meaningful moment in the program so far?

I’ve worked closely with a long-term patient, building a strong rapport and witnessing their progress. As they prepare for independent living, I’m grateful to have been part of their journey and inspired by their resilience, motivation, and compassion. Their story will stay with me throughout my career.

Your “aha” moment in practicum?

Realizing that at a certain point it comes down to trusting your intuition because the skill has been embodied.

Three words to describe your practicum?

Valuable. Amazing. Not-long-enough.