The Guardian
College of Court Reporting, est. 1984
November 2021
CCR Steno Student, Jenny Dennis, attends her local court reporting convention.
What was your favorite part of the convention?
My favorite part of the convention was networking with the stenographers who were there. They were really encouraging and answered all of my questions. It was nice to hear from all the fields of stenography such as CART, official court reporters, and freelancers. I also enjoyed listening to Brittan Bolin, who is the Illinois state lobbyist for court reporters. She is fighting to keep court reporters in Illinois, and I found it inspiring to know just how important our job is!
Was there a specific tip or suggestion you learned in the educational sessions that you would like to share with your classmates?
My biggest setback has always been anxiety. I talked to a woman named Georgia Rollins, and she gave me some really good tips. One of the tips was to just pretend it’s you and the speaker. Focus on the words you hear and not on who is around you. For the emotional aspect, she said to practice a poker face. Watch puppy videos and funny videos and try not to laugh and just stay focused on what the words are instead of the content. I found that could work hand in hand with anxiety and emotions.
Did you meet anyone who inspired you? (I know Isiah:))
I really loved meeting Isiah Roberts. He was down to earth and really excited to share his story. Georgia Rollins was also inspiring to me. She did something called Boot Camp in Washington D.C. and talked about how it changed her as a court reporter. She said she laughed, she cried, she wanted to quit because it was so hard but, in the end, she said it made her a better reporter. There’s always room for improvement in every field and boot camp, for her, really motivated her to do more and also be an advocate for stenographers. Also, who doesn’t want to see a congressional meeting, and that’s one of the things she did in boot camp.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I can’t wait for next year. I would highly recommend attending your state conferences.
CCR Graduate, Keisha Jarrett, in court as a voice writer!
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From the CCR archives...
FIRST IMPRESSIONS IN A SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD
In life we are granted one first: our first step, our first day at school, our first kiss. Firsts are so important, in fact, it has been said that there is never a second chance to make a first impression. With that thought in mind, think about this: Potential employers often use Google and internet-based social websites to glean information about an applicant they are considering for employment. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what do the pictures on your social media accounts tell a future employer about you, and what kind of first impression will they be left with?
When you graduate, your transcript will not be the only thing you are selling. You, too, become a part of the product you are marketing. Your behavior represents not only yourself, but your future employer and your court reporting community as a whole. The activities you choose to participate in, your dress, and your appearance all become indicators to others of the person you are long before your work product is ever seen. In fact, most people will come to know about you before they personally know about you strictly based on a reputation that precedes you in a field where honesty, integrity, and discretion are paramount.
Understanding that your online image is the first impression of who you are is another important "first." People will determine if you are a person they want to work with from what they learn about you online. Start by guarding your name and your reputation the same way you would guard your Social Security number. Be mindful not only of the things you choose to post and say on social networking sites but the things you choose to allow yourself to be a part of or to participate in
With that said, remember that it is not always the picture you post on your Facebook or Instagram account that can have a detrimental effect on the impression you leave with others; it can be the picture you allow to be taken of you that is later tagged on someone else's social media account. Be mindful of the things you allow to be written on your wall. While you cannot control others and their opinions, you do have control over what is on your personal page and, presumably, what you post there reflects your opinions. While not always fair, some will judge guilty by association; so choose your associates wisely.
While an ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure regarding one's reputation and first impressions specifically, those who do have an embarrassing hiccup in their person histories should remember this: Do not allow yourself to be defined by your mistakes but, rather, by how you choose to overcome them, never forgetting your lessons learned today and applying them to all your tomorrows. Own your past and the mistakes it holds so they won't later own you. Be forthcoming regarding those errors in judgment so that you will never be presumed guilty of lying by omission.
While we strive for perfection, we will never be perfect. And while no firm is looking for perfection in an applicant, they are looking for someone who represents them, their values, and their company in a way they can be proud of and that they can sell to others. Begin this day becoming the reporter you want to market in your future. Develop a reputation that you can be proud of, and you will be showing others how much of an asset you will be to their team.
The Veritext Court Reporting Student Scholarship Program
Veritext Court Reporting Scholarship
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS
ELIGIBILITY:
• Student must have at least a 2.5% GPA to qualify.
• Student must have successfully passed one test with a minimum speed of 100 wpm and above.
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY:
Student must be enrolled in AAS Degree in Court Reporting or Certificate in Court Reporting, at the College Of Court Reporting
DETERMINATION:
Veritext Scholarship will be determined by the College of Court Reporting Program for one (1) annual $500 scholarship.
HOW TO APPLY:
Complete this application and return it to Mindi Billings at mindi.billings@ccr.edu.
DISBURSEMENT:
Scholarship awards can only be applied to tuition, supplies, and fees for courses taken at the College Of Court Reporting.
NCRA
Virginia Court Reporters Association
NVRA
Job opportunities
For more information...
Kate M. Martin, CCM
Clerk of Court/Court Administrator and
Pershing County Adult Drug Court Coordinator
11th Judicial District Court
P.O. Box H
400 Main Street
Lovelock, NV 89419
Direct Line: 775-273-5128
Phone: 775-273-2410 ext. 257
Cell: 775-223-9483
CCR MISSION
Moving?
PLEASE NOTE: Should you move to another state, it's extremely important that you notify CCR of your new address and also learn your new state's licensing requirements by visiting www.ccr.edu>Resources>State Requirements.
If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Kijurna, Director of Alumni & Employer Relations/Title IX Coordinator, at natalie.kijurna@ccr.edu or 866-294-3974 ext. 229.
ABC, NBC, CBS?? Nah...we have your fav channels right here!
https://channels-moodle.ev360es.com/
CCR is accredited.
College of Court Reporting is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). CCR has maintained accreditation since 1987 and received an initial five-year grant of accreditation from DEAC through June 2026. CCR currently offers an A.A.S. and two certificates in Court Reporting which was reviewed and approved by DEAC. Website: https://www.deac.org/
It's Not Too Late!
Contact Nicky Rodriquez at 866-294-3974 ext. 222 or nicky.rodriquez@ccr.edu for more information.
College of Court Reporting
Email: info@ccr.edu
Website: www.ccr.edu
Location: Valparaiso, IN, United States
Phone: 219-531-1459
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccr.edu/
Twitter: @collegecourtrep