15 Jan A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and Community: Welcome to 2025

A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and Community:

Welcome to 2025

The NAJIT Observer

As the new year begins, at The Observer, we are excited about what the upcoming year holds. The beginning of a new year offers us a great opportunity to reflect on our past successes, evaluating our present circumstances, and planning for what’s next. It’s also a perfect moment to pause and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community that keeps the NAJIT blog flourishing—you, our valued readers and contributors.

Guided by passion: Together, we create a path toward growth and success

Reflecting on 2024

2024 was a year of growth, resilience, and significant change within our NAJIT community. It was also the year I came onto the NAJIT team.

This past year, at The Observer, we explored a variety of topics, from the cognitive demands of interpreting and the risk of interpreter’s fatigue to the significance of correct name pronunciation for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals, as well as the LEP’s right to “hear everything” in court. Whether you participated as a reader, commenter, or guest blogger, your involvement enriched our shared journey and enhanced our collective knowledge.

Some highlights from last year include:

• • Interpreter’s Fatigue: A Real Threat to Due Process: Hilda Shymanik explored the cognitive demands of interpreting and how mental fatigue threatens accuracy and due process. She shared personal experiences to highlight the importance of advocating for breaks and adhering to ethical guidelines, emphasizing the need for systemic support for interpreters.
  • The Importance of Being Called by Your Name: Ann Heath-Huynh’s thoughtful piece highlighted the significance of correctly pronouncing names, especially for LEPs (Limited English Proficient individuals) navigating the legal system. Her personal anecdotes and insights underscored the profound impact of this simple act of respect and validation.
  • The LEP’s Right to “Hear Everything”: Janis Palma’s in-depth piece on the LEP’s (Limited English Proficient) right to “hear everything” in court sparked essential conversations about balancing interpreters’ legal obligations with practical workload management.

Looking Ahead

With the new year comes a renewed commitment to excellence and growth. Here are some exciting things to look forward to on The Observer:

• • Expanded Content: We’re broadening our scope to include innovative topics like the impact of artificial intelligence on interpreting and translation.
  • A Platform for You: This year, we want to continue to amplify more voices from within our NAJIT community. If you have an idea for a blog post, a story to share, or insights to offer, we’d love to hear from you.

Setting Intentions Together

The new year is also about personal and professional growth. As interpreters and translators, our work thrives when we support one another. Let’s make 2025 the year we continue to:

• • Engage Meaningfully: Take part in discussions and share feedback to foster an informed and progressive community.
  • Learn Continuously: Embrace new challenges and opportunities for professional development.

A Nod to Chinese New Year — Lunar New Year

Celebrating tradition: A Lion Dance performance brings good luck and joy to the Lunar New Year

While many of us ring in the new year on January 1st, it’s essential for me to recognize the variety of new year celebrations around the world. One tradition that holds a special place in my heart is the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year. My appreciation for this celebration deepened during my time as a language instructor in a remote English learning program for students in China. Through daily lessons and cultural exchanges, I was immersed in their traditions and heritage.

I’ll always remember how my students expressed their excitement for the holiday—sharing stories about preparing red lanterns, reuniting with family, and the significance of each dish served during meals. A particularly memorable moment was when a student described the joy of receiving red envelopes, which symbolize wishes for prosperity and good fortune, though he admitted he mostly enjoyed the money inside. Even from afar, their enthusiasm, and pride made the celebration feel alive for me, establishing a personal connection to their culture that has led me to celebrate in honor of my ties to Chinese heritage. The Chinese New Year is a powerful reminder of the significance of heritage, togetherness, and renewal—values that resonate deeply within our global community of interpreters and translators.

A Heartfelt Thank You

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to my amazing team of volunteers at The Observer. Your passion, dedication, and hard work are the backbone of everything we accomplish for our readers. You breathe life into the NAJIT mission and enable The Observer to flourish as a hub of growth and connection. It’s your shared commitment that motivates me every day, and I am truly grateful for each one of you.

As we welcome this new beginning, we also want to send our sincerest appreciation to all of you. Your enthusiasm for the blog and support for NAJIT are what keep our community alive, and your efforts transform The Observer into a place where ideas can grow, and connections can deepen.

Here’s to a year full of inspiration, collaboration, and mutual success. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year from everyone at The Observer!

To learn more about the dedicated team behind The NAJIT Observer and the passion that drives our mission, check out our feature: “It’s Always a Good Day to Make New Friends”

Guided by passion: Together, we create a path toward growth and success

How Will You Celebrate 2025?

Share your professional or personal goals, resolutions, or ideas for the year in the comments below. Let’s start the year by inspiring each other!

The images used in this post are sourced from Unsplash. They are used for illustrative purposes only.