Interpreter Spotlight: Marisela Rodriguez-Garcia!

Every interpreter carries more than just language—they carry stories, empathy, and lived experience. Meet Marisela Rodriguez Garcia, one of our standout Spanish interpreters at Metaphrasis. In this feature, she shares her journey—from interpreting for her parents as a child to supporting families in schools and patients in behavioral health. Discover what drives her, the challenges she faces, and why her work is about so much more than words.

At Metaphrasis, we’re proud to work with talented and dedicated interpreters who bridge language barriers to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. One of our standout interpreters, Marisela Rodriguez-Garcia, recently shared insight into her journey as a trilingual interpreter fluent in Spanish and English.

For Marisela Rodriguez-Garcia, interpreting is more than a job—it’s a calling rooted in family, faith, and connection. As a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants, Marisela started interpreting at a young age: ordering food at restaurants, navigating grocery store aisles, translating church bulletins. Now, she uses that same heart and skill in high-stakes environments—like behavioral health facilities and IEP meetings—where understanding can change lives.

Since joining Metaphrasis in 2022, Marisela has brought clarity and compassion to every appointment. One moment she’ll never forget? Interpreting a series of sessions for a young girl from Honduras. “She opened up much more when I was present,” Marisela said. That trust helped the care team provide better support and find the right placement after discharge.

Even on the hardest days, she finds strength in her faith, in small moments of laughter shared across languages, and in the belief that language access is inclusion we had the chance to ask Marisela a few questions about her background, experience, and what drives her in this vital work. Here’s what she shared:

1. What led you to become an interpreter?

Interpreting has always come naturally to me. As a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants, I grew up interpreting for my parents at restaurants, grocery stores, auto parts shops—pretty much anywhere English was needed. I also interpreted at bilingual church events and services. Later on, I worked in international business as a Latin America Market Development and Account Manager, where I regularly interpreted during high-level meetings and translated marketing materials.

After my youngest son was born, I stayed home for a while. When he started preschool, I was invited to work at a local school district and became the district’s interpreter and translator. During the pandemic, working from home made me realize I could manage my own schedule, do what I love, and still be present for my family and church community.

2. Walk us through a typical day—what kinds of environments do you interpret in?

My day usually starts with coffee and checking emails to review new interpreter assignments and my weekly schedule. I try to fill open time slots with virtual or shorter assignments when I’m not scheduled for a full-day. Most of my full-day assignments are in mental or behavioral health settings, and I also work a lot in education—especially with IEPs and special education meetings.

3. What’s the most challenging part of your work? The most rewarding?

The most challenging part is when people forget I’m there—or worse, that I’m human. Side conversations happen, and the person with limited English proficiency (LEP) misses out on important information.

The most rewarding part knows that my interpreting helps someone truly understand and participate. When a parent in an IEP meeting or a patient in a medical setting walks away informed and empowered, I know I’ve made a difference. I especially love those moments when everyone laughs at a joke—including the LEP—because I was able to carry that humor across languages.

4. Can you share a moment where your interpretation really made a difference for someone?

There have been many meaningful moments, but one stands out. I was assigned to interpret a series of sessions for a young girl from Honduras in a behavioral health facility. She was here alone and had gone through a lot. I interpreted for her therapy and social work appointments, and the providers noticed that she opened up much more when I was present. That trust helped the team better understand her situation and ultimately find the right placement for her after discharge. That experience reminded me how important our role can be in someone’s life.

5. What kind of training or certifications do you have?

I’ve taken interpreter trainings through the agencies I contract with, along with online professional development courses. I’m qualified for Special Education interpretation and have passed the State of Illinois Early Intervention interpreter training and exam. I’m also planning to take the Special Education interpreter certification for Illinois soon.

6. How do you handle emotionally difficult assignments?

Behavioral health assignments can be especially heavy. I’ve heard heartbreaking stories, and sometimes they stay with me. If there’s a chapel in the hospital, I’ll stop in to pray for the people I interpret for. If I’m on a particularly emotional series, I may take a break in between. A walk around a nearby shopping center during lunch or after the assignment helps me decompress and clear my head.

7. What’s something people often misunderstand about interpreters?

People often think we can speak and think as fast as they do. But we’re human—we have limits to how much we can retain and process at once. And sometimes they forget that the LEP person deserves to be included in every part of the conversation, including side comments. If they spoke English, they’d understand everything, so they deserve that same access through interpretation.

8. What does “language access” mean to you personally?

It means inclusion. It means being part of the conversation, part of the decision-making. It’s about making people feel seen, heard, and valued—because they are.

We’re grateful to have interpreters like her on our team, who bring not only language proficiency but also deep compassion and cultural sensitivity to their work. If you’d like to learn more about language access or how we can assist with your interpreting needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact us today.