by Stephen Shastay
| Over the years, I have taught thousands of students. Some were naturals. Others struggled mightily. One stands out above them all: Maria Grimaldo. I know of no better example of how to be a student, a reporter, a professional.
Maria has a very engaging personality. People are drawn to her. Wherever she goes, she makes friends fast. She has a positive effect on people, and she is an inspiration on the highest level. She asks for advice. More importantly, she takes the advice that is offered. She listens. She observes. She learns. She progresses. She started her training at Shirley Baker in Houston. Later, she joined us at Court Reporting Institute of Houston. She is the epitome of a student. She arrives at school to set up her equipment well before most teachers arrive. She never leaves early. She rarely misses a day of school. In her first days of school, she tap-tap-tapped from class to class with her cane. She ran into potted plants, half-open doors, and misplaced chairs. Now that she’s learned the layout of the building, she’s rolling her computer station from class to class. Her computer station consists of a laptop, external keyboard, Braille reader, steno machine and printer. Thanks to Instructor Cori Sorensen and Instructor Elaine Welch, for they have been instrumental in the acquisition of this special software and equipment that Maria utilizes. |
 Top left clockwise: Stephen Shastay, Elaine Welch, Cori Sorensen, Maria Grimaldo |
Maria writes realtime in every class. For readback and tests, she uses a Braille reader, which interprets the translated steno. This is a lot harder than it sounds. Braille is a lot like shorthand, and Braille symbols can be interpreted various ways. It is not enough that her CAT system correctly translates the words, but she must also be able to interpret the Braille symbols of that translation.
There is more. When she operates her computer, she depends on software that provides a voice translation of the menus and options on each and every screen of each and every program that she uses. Again, this is a lot harder than it sounds; and yet she succeeds.
Right now, Maria is bestowing her gifts upon our 180s class. If she continues to progress at the same rate, she will graduate within the year. I expect her to pass her certification test the first time. That is when the world will come to know Maria Grimaldo. She will have the skills to write realtime upon graduation without any further training. Any court would be blessed to have her as their official reporter. Freelance firms should start courting her now. She will be in demand.
Maria is leading the way for a new generation of reporters. She has proven that it is possible to learn realtime while in school. She is the first. Others will follow her example.
We taught her stenography. Commitment, excellence, perseverance, courage – those we learned from her.
Maria Grimaldo – don’t forget that name. She’s coming soon!
Stephen Shastay is an instructor at the Court Reporting Institute of Houston. Please visit his very informative website consisting of practice dictation and writing techniques and more for court reporters and students at courtreportinghelp.com
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