This Court Reporting School Or That One?

10 Commandments of Working Hard And Working Smart In Court Reporting School

Posted on 5/6/2008

I'm putting the final touches on my 2nd speech to the court reporting students at Cerritos Community College.

You can read my first visit to Cerritos Court Reporting here.

The jist of what I'm speaking about is that there is a very simple way to become a court reporter. It's not easy but it is simple! I specifically drive home the points that there is no easy way. But through hard work and working smart, the path is simple. It's so easy to get bogged down in life and let progress falter. I think the reason it's important to finish court reporting school is… so that court reporting school doesn't finish you.

But how do you know if you're working hard and smart or not? How do you measure that in practical, real terms? I've created my 10 Commandments of Working Hard & Working Smart in Court Reporting School.

Commandment No. 1 - Thou shalt attend school everyday.
Commandment No. 2 - Thou shalt type every test.
Commandment No. 3 - Thou shalt read your notes.
Commandment No. 4 - Thou shalt analyze your errors and fix them.
Commandment No. 5 - Thou shalt review one lesson of theory daily.
Commandment No. 6 - Thou shalt practice at home even on weekends.
Commandment No. 7 - Thou shalt be accountable to another person to keep you on track.
Commandment No. 8 - Thou shalt mentor someone in a lower speed.
Commandment No. 9 - Thou shalt remove any and all unnecessary distractions from your life.
Commandment No. 10 - Thou shalt keep a positive attitude and avoid any and all negativity.

If you are not doing any one of these 10 Commandments - I'll just be honest - you're in trouble.

Comment by Marva
5/12/2008

Hi Todd.
My name is Marva Thomas. I am a courtreporting student in piscataway new jersey. I came across your web site after googling asmuchas Ikd apbt the industry Court reporting funnies, i showed to my steno1 -theory teacher,who showed them to the class. I would love a your brain on steno t-shirt/or hoodie.
I am in steno 1 as i said earlier. I love court reporting, but as a divorced single mother of 2 I find it hard to find time to practice. I have class Mon-Thurs. so fridays while the kids are in school, drop them off at school, I head straight to the hair salon with my Leagal, computer,and latin books. After the hair salon, I get a snack and head straight to the public library, with my computer and my stenograph. I want this so bad i can taste it. Its hard not to get distracted. Or discouraged.
I`m mixed but everyone thinks i`m black which would make me the only minority in my class of five/six students. I feel/and see the good old black tax at work. But i can`t complain, because the director/principle/steno 1 teacher is the one whoz always on me . I don`t know if she is trying to weed out the week and build up the strong. But trying to get this machine, plus practice & study to keep up my G.P.A. is hard. On top of single parent hood.
But anyway I feel like i`m in the fight of my life. B4 court reporting, i was in school for biotechnology, i thought that was hard with chemistry, formulas, Math, Math + and more mmmmmmmath!! But its not like you can study,and memorize with this, you have to study, memorize, believe in you and your ability, and back it up with a positive attitude, commitment AND PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
Todd you inspire me. I am happy i found this career,this unspoken art. I am proud to see peoples reaction when they see me and my machine at the library and they ask questions about the art, and how does the machine work,and is the field lucrative. I am truely passionate about this field. And to know as a single parent/divorcee. I can take care of myself, and my 2 little ones, and always have a job in todays economy. Thats priceless. And more importantly I can change my statisticle status into a smile because I am on the road to success. And i`m prooving to myself and my son & daughter that i can do whatever i put my mind to.
Todd I don`t know your story, and i `ve given you a crumb of mine. But i would love to meet you. Please i know your a busy man, but if you could find the time for a email,or some court reporting words of wisdom heres my email, and number:
somarvalous@yahoo.com (1-973)885-9599.
Thanks a bunch.

Comment by Debra
5/13/2008

Perfect 10! I`ve been attending school for the past 10 weeks and I love it. My only regret is that I didn`t start earlier. When I first started, the three words I kept hearing were `Practice, practice, practice.` I thought they were nuts, but I know better now. Every spare waking moment of mine is spent practicing.

This Court Reporting School Or That One?

My Speech To Cerritos Community College