An uplifting profile of a woman who left medical school to pursue her passion for languages, ultimately becoming an educator, interpreter, mentor, and entrepreneur. The article explores how embracing one’s natural gifts can shape a fulfilling and impactful career.
Influential Woman · Court Interpreting, Mentorship, Legal Translation, Publishing
Sandra Haydee Giroux
Mentor to Prospective Court Interpreters, Legal Translator, Linguamia Press LLC
Ocala, Fl, FL 34476
7Years experience
1Article published
Her Story
About Sandra
Sandra Haydee Giroux is a court interpreter, mentor, translator, teacher, and publisher whose career has been shaped by service, resilience, and a deep love for language. She spent more than 20 years as a classroom teacher before moving into court interpreting, serving within a Florida judicial circuit. There, she discovered a passion for guiding aspiring interpreters and began mentoring them formally.
A surgery that resulted in the loss of a vocal cord changed the direction of her career. Sandra responded by reinventing her professional path: she transitioned to freelance work and founded a publishing company dedicated to creating resources for her mentees and the interpreting community. Today, she continues offering consecutive interpretation, translation, and teaching services.
She holds a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Salamanca, a bachelor’s degree in English from a university in Ecuador, a translation and interpreting certificate from FIU, and a Florida court interpreting certification. She is an active member of NAJIT, ATA, and AAITE, and volunteers with a homeless ministry. Sandra credits her success to the joy she finds in her work and to a lifelong gift for teaching that naturally grew into mentorship.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sandra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute it to the love I put into what I do, my enthusiasm, and the gift of teaching that turned into mentorship after my transition from being a staff interpreter.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your heart.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Follow your heart and use the talents, abilities, and skills that God has given you — whether natural or developed. I once advised a young woman from Ecuador to pursue the career she truly wanted, while still speaking respectfully with her parents about her choice. She followed her own path with grace, and she ultimately succeeded by doing so.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Social media is both a challenge and an opportunity in my field. It offers visibility and credibility, but it also requires creativity and consistency in how you present yourself — something that felt very new to me after leaving my staff interpreter role. There is also a significant amount of behind‑the‑scenes work that comes with being independent, from managing content to maintaining a professional presence, which adds another layer to the challenge.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Ethical values and principles such as accuracy and transparency. Having love for what you do is the biggest value, which brings success even in a small circle.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Sandra
What Drives You?
From Medical School to Following Your True Calling: A Journey of Courage and Authenticity
What Drives You?
The hardest moment for Haydee was finding the courage to tell her mother she needed to withdraw from medical school. Her mother had dreamed of having a daughter who became a doctor, and Haydee had already completed two and a half years of the program.
In Ecuador at that time, students chose their academic track in middle school. High school was specialized, preparing them to enter a university program directly aligned with their chosen field. After graduation, Haydee went straight into an eight-year medical program. While she studied at a boarding high school, her mother—who was in Mexico for professional training—sent her textbooks in biochemistry, anatomy, and biology. Haydee didn't open them until she officially began her medical studies.
But something had already awakened in her years earlier.
When she took her first English class in middle school, she fell in love with the language. At fourteen, she was already translating voluntarily and studying grammar books on her own. English felt natural, joyful, and alive in a way medicine never did.
So one day, with courage and trembling honesty, she told her mother:
"Mom, I've tried hard, but medicine is not for me. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I need to withdraw."
Her mother listened quietly, thought for a moment, and asked:
"What would you like to do, then?"
Haydee didn't hesitate.
"I would love to study English."
Her mother nodded. "Okay, then. I'll pay for your English classes at the American Academy. Let's get you registered."
Haydee requested a placement test, confident in the knowledge she had gained on her own. She was placed at the intermediate level and completed the 22-month program. Shortly after graduating, she learned of a private university offering a final placement exam for students with strong English proficiency. Passing it meant entering directly into the second year of the Languages program. She took the exam—and passed.
Her path unfolded from there.
She became an English teacher at a private primary school and later at a middle school. She taught for about fifteen years before moving to the United States, earning a master's degree in Spanish and teaching at both a high school and a local university. Eventually, she transitioned into court interpreting and translation, earning her certification in Florida. Because she loved both interpreting and teaching, she proposed a mentorship program for her judicial circuit—an initiative her supervisors gladly approved.
In time, she built her own business as a freelance language professional, offering mentorship and translation services while creating resources for others in the field.
Sandra Haydee followed her heart. She embraced the talents God gave her—both natural and developed—and trusted that using them faithfully would lead her where she was meant to be. That has been the quiet secret behind her success.
What drives you to do what you do? Are you using your gifts—whether innate or cultivated—to serve others and shape your own path?
By Sandra Haydee Giroux
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