She’s a percussionist, a substitute teacher, a new mother, and now a future court reporter. Cara Pedone, a student at Macomb Community College in Clinton Township, Mich., was a music teacher before deciding she needed a new career. An interest in a state-sponsored retirement plan and a job posting for the judicial system led her to court reporting. As a musician, she already had her practice routine down.
UTS | You were a music teacher. How do you feel your aptitude for music aligns with learning stenography?
CP | I’m a percussionist, so it doesn’t help with the finger dexterity like it might for a piano player or a clarinetist. But I think the practice and listening skills translate well.
UTS | How do you think being a career changer has helped you succeed in school?
CP | It’s probably given me a stronger dedication to succeeding, since I took a long time considering it before making the change. It’s not just something I’m trying out; it’s something I have committed to.
UTS | What do you love about stenography?
CP | I love that it feels like a puzzle and a new language. It’s fun to learn, but also a challenge.
UTS | Describe your practice routine. How many hours a day do you practice?
CP | I practice where I can. I practice during breaks at work or usually right before sleeping, after the kids have gone to bed. I try to get in at least an hour a day, but sometimes life calls and I can only get thirty minutes. I enjoy the days where I can practice more. I like to practice with TV shows, movies, and podcasts in addition to the class dictations.
UTS | Are you also balancing a family and/or a job during school? How do you manage that?
I am balancing many things, including a 3-month-old baby! I just went back to work this week as a substitute teacher, so having that time off was helpful. I manage it with the help of my husband and family nearby to watch the two kids when I have class. Sometimes I put the toddler with a movie and the baby sleeps on me while I practice. The best time to practice is after their bedtime, if I’m not too tired.
UTS | What is the scariest or hardest thing about court reporting school? What keeps you motivated along the way?
CP | So far, the hardest thing is the speed building. I haven’t gotten to the automatic fingers just yet, so my thinking sometimes gets in the way of the speed at the moment. I worry that my fingers won’t ever get fast enough. The other part I find difficult is learning all of the rules of court reporting along the way in addition to the language of stenography shorthand. What keeps me motivated is partly the financial investment I’ve already put in, but also the belief that I will succeed with enough practice.
UTS | Do you see any challenges ahead for the profession of court reporting and captioning?
CP | I think the looming threat of AI getting better might be a challenge, but hopefully the human touch will prevail
UTS | You are a brand-new NCRA student member? Why did you join?
CP | Well, I knew I would join eventually, just to be connected to the larger world of court reporting. I think what pushed me to sign up when I did was my teachers talking about knowing people for when I need to do my internship and also the email stating three free months of membership! It’s good to be involved for the education resources and any new things that may come up.
UTS | Where do you see yourself in five years? What does your ideal career look like?
One of the reasons I picked court reporting was to hold on to my state-sponsored retirement fund I have through teaching with a job in the state court. But the idea of setting up my own schedule with two growing kids is also appealing. So, who knows where I might be in five years. Hopefully long out of school and enjoying being a working stenographer.
UTS | What are your hobbies – besides stenography?
I enjoy movies, TV, and spending time with my family. I also enjoy playing in a community band.
UTS | Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thanks for choosing me to be in your spotlight!
Elizabeth Bosilkovski, Court Reporting Instructor/Coordinator Workforce & Continuing Education at Macomb Community College, recommended Pedone for the Student Spotlight. “Cara Pedone is doing amazing in her classes while recently welcoming a new baby,” Bosilkovski says. “Balancing school with a newborn is no small task, and we are so proud of her success.
“She is a very dedicated student who always gives her schoolwork 150 percent, she is very determined, and I think that has been the secret to her success thus far.”
Check out our entire Student Spotlight series.
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