by Deborah L. DuBuc

I have been reflecting a lot recently as I approach a new chapter in my life’s journey. I will leave Iowa and head to Florida after this semester ends, which means lots of fun in the sun and more time with family, but it also means stepping down as program chair at Des Moines Area Community College, a program I have gladly poured my whole heart into for years. I’ll be leaving behind many students in whose futures I feel quite personally invested. In a word, it is bittersweet. 

Foremost in my mind in these final weeks are the things I hope to impart to my students to set them up for success through the remainder of their journey to graduation and the start of what I hope will be long and successful careers. To be certain I don’t miss anything important on the topic of what your teachers wish you knew and embraced. I also asked a couple of fellow instructors to share what they most want their students to know. Their responses aligned perfectly with my draft points. The following list is a compilation of personal reflections with a couple of colleagues’ points thrown in where particularly salient. 

Students, may you find at least one “wish you knew” helpful as you continue your learning journey.

1

Your teachers want your success – Yes, really! Even if you are someone who struggles to get your practice time in and even when it feels like all you are hearing from said instructor are things you need to work on or change. Your teachers genuinely want your success. When you are not successful, we feel like we are not successful. If we sometimes sound like a broken record or it feels like we are constantly pestering you to practice more or differently, it is NOT because we do not like you. It is, quite simply, because we see what is not working and want to encourage a change that could lead to success! Colleague Brittani Meyer, RMR, CRR, added something students may not realize, “We feel their not-passed tests too!”

2

Theory really is the most important part of your steno training. I cannot stress this one enough. If at any point you feel like you can’t wait to get past the current lesson because it’s hard and you want to move on to something else, check that thought and double down on your practice. If you don’t like the number bar, practice it more than anything else until you love it when numbers come up in dictation. What you hate (or hesitate over) the most is most negatively impacting your growth, so work that pattern or skill until it causes zero hesitation to see an impact on your writing development. Have you got a particular word you tend to misstroke or hesitate over but are also working on your number bar? Try writing the troublesome word between each number as a warmup: 10 strength, 20 strength, 30 strength, 40 strength, 50 strength, et cetera.

3

Briefs are helpful . . . until they are not. Okay, let’s be clear on this one:  There is no denying that “I don’t know,” written in one stroke is faster than writing three strokes IF – but only if – you know that brief stroke so well that it is accurately flying off your fingers at light speed when you hear it. Many high-frequency words/phrases have briefs precisely because they come up so often, but you should always know your theory so well that stroking something out is fluid and happens without hesitation.  Do you find yourself asking for briefs for words simply because you don’t like them?  Employ the above practice strategy to try to straighten out the theory first because you really cannot have a brief for everything and stroking out should always trump hesitating to figure out the brief. Colleague Margary Rogers, RPR, CRI, said it perfectly when she offered “Only use a brief form if you truly know it like you know yourself.”

4

Theory and speed are important parts of your development, but they are not the only important things! Students become extremely focused on that 225 goal. This makes sense; it feels like that number is what stands between you and everything you want in life. But the other things you are learning – word knowledge, punctuation and grammar, transcript production skills, knowledge about the profession, ethics, technology, and soft skills – are the things that will help you get certified, keep the job, and build a successful career. A sincere focus on developing each and every one of those areas throughout your training matters more than you can imagine. Approach every transcript you prepare in school as if it were going to the Supreme Court of the United States in a landmark case, track your errors, learn from them, and endeavor never to make the same mistake twice. (Everyone makes transcription mistakes when training, but if you make it your mission to make as few as possible and to never to make the same one twice, you will grow so much!)

5

Sometimes more is just more, and sometimes less is more. I am a very loud and proud dance mom, having raised two girls who are now both professional dancers.  I remember attending a dance training opportunity with one of my girls wherein a parent session was held. Naturally, I was there, notebook and pen in hand, eager to take notes on how I might best support my dancers’ dreams. The speaker talked about the tendency of families to pursue more and more dances for their dancer each year – with some competitive dancers hitting the stage 20 or more times in a competition weekend (while the parents take out a second mortgage) – the parents thinking this was what it takes to be among the best. In actuality, less might be more, he explained. A dancer doesn’t need more than one group in each genre to grow, and the more you load them up, the more stress you are placing on mind, body, and spirit. Fatigue leads to injuries, and stress is a thief of joy and passion.  This applies to your training as well! Yes, practice is important, and yes, we ask for lots of it! However, more practice is only beneficial if it is quality, purposeful practice. If you are just pounding out mindless hours or pushing yourself when what you really need a break for a few hours to rest and recharge, you might be doing more harm than good. Equally important to recognize: More tests might be nothing more than additional chances to fail and doubt your abilities if you’re not yet ready to pass them. In my experience, teachers do offer additional tests when they see a demonstrated readiness to pass them. Keep working on your skills, knowing you will pass those tests when your skills are there!

6

You are a whole person, not just a steno student on a mission to pass 225; your health, mental and physical, is important to your success. Take care of yourself.  Get quality sleep. Get to the gym if that’s your thing, or simply take a walk when you need a break. Make a trip to the movies with friends a reward for getting your practice hours in. Intentionally develop a supportive peer group, and don’t be afraid to seek out therapeutic support when you need it. Many schools provide free access to counseling services for students. I remember a reporter telling me she had a monthly massage membership and considered it an investment in her career longevity. Prioritizing your physical health and mental wellness does not have to be expensive, though, and truly can feed your success. Rogers adds, “Your fingers and hands are instruments, just as your steno machine is. Take care of them both. I find that when I get a full-service manicure, I feel better when I write. If you look good and display your best self, I truly believe you write better.”   

7

How you think about yourself and your journey matters. Comparison – whether to classmates or an “expected” timeline – is rarely helpful. Over my thirty-year reporting education career, I have had some students who thrive on competition.  These folks fight to be at the top of the Realtime Coach practice leader board and always seem to know who has earned what and where they stand in comparison, appearing particularly motivated to kick it into gear when they are in danger of being outperformed by a classmate. If that mindset actually works for you and does not stress you out, more power to you! But I have had far more students for whom comparison leads to self-doubt and a decrease in motivation. Your journey is just that – your journey. It will not be the same as anyone else’s, and the fact that you struggle at some point along the way – perhaps needing to repeat one or more classes – does not necessarily mean you will struggle throughout. Focus on yourself and the growth in skill and knowledge base. If you are looking for the growth, it is there; and by focusing on where you are and what it takes to get to the next goal, you can keep yourself moving forward.

8

Setting boundaries with your family/friend support system is both okay and, quite possibly, necessary for your mental health! Bless the parents, siblings, extended family, and friends of steno students. They mean well . . . truly, they do! However, no matter how often it is explained to them, most folks who have never written on that little machine will never fully understand what it is like to sit in your spot. Whenever I have had the opportunity to speak with students’ families, I have always shared the same message: Feel free to ask your student how their practice is going and how you can support them in ensuring that practice gets done. If they have kids, offer to help in ways that free up a bit of their time for some extra practice; but NEVER ask about testing, whether they think they will “get out of” their current class this semester, or (horrors) when they will graduate. These questions come from a loving place, but they often land as censure or disappointment. (And yes, feel free to send your family and friends this to read.)

9

Certification matters. Yes, even in a state where it is not required. Certifications demonstrate your commitment to your craft.  They tell the world you are accomplished, can get the job done, in some cases could mean a bump in pay, and might even provide job security as our beloved profession faces external threats.  Pursue those three letters behind your name, enjoy that achievement, and then maybe go after some additional certs! When you graduate, continue to practice daily until you meet your certification goals. Writing on the job is not the same as writing five minutes at a controlled speed, and even fifteen minutes of focused daily push practice at controlled speeds can help move you toward your goals.

10

Membership and engagement matter. Join NCRA and your state association as a student member and get involved. Attend conventions when you can. In addition to receiving benefits like access to professional publications like the JCR and discounted fees for certification testing, your engagement in these organizations could lead to opportunities you might not otherwise have. You may meet a reporter who ends up being an integral part of your journey through mentoring, or you may connect with a firm for whom you will one day work. It is never too early to start building your professional network.

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Thank you for sharing in my ruminations as I approach a crossroads in my life’s journey.  On the good days, I suspect most students “know” the above, but my hope for you is that you will embrace this knowledge even on the tough days. May your journey through school be filled with the knowledge that you can do it and the determination and commitment to make it happen, knowing your instructors are behind you. Happy practicing!

Deborah L. DuBuc, RPR, CRI, CPE, is an instructor and Department Chair, Realtime Court Reporting at Des Moines Area Community College. She can be reached at dldubuc@dmacc.edu.