Genevieve Alvarez ’20 is Bridging Communication

I began my journey at Montclair State University in the fall of 2016 with every intention of becoming a teacher. I chose to major in Family Science and Human Development because I had always been fascinated by family dynamics, and I loved that I could study something I was genuinely passionate about while pursuing a career in education.

About halfway through the program, I realized that teaching in a traditional classroom setting wasn’t the right fit for me. I wanted to work more directly with children and families, and shifted my focus toward child advocacy. Ironically, when I graduated in May 2020, I was offered a teaching position at my former middle school. I taught sixth grade for one year, and the experience reminded me that my passions lay outside of the classroom.

During that year, I was given the opportunity to participate in an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting program for Heritage Language Users because I am a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). That’s when I had my light bulb moment. I completely fell in love with interpreting and realized it aligned far more closely with the way I wanted to serve others. It allowed me to help people while incorporating my heart language.

While completing my interpreting program, I worked in Early Intervention as a service coordinator helping Deaf moms. It was incredibly rewarding to see the concepts I had studied in FSHD come to life while also working with a population close to my heart. I had the opportunity to educate and support families, helping parents navigate services that would meet their children’s developmental needs. It was one of the first times I truly saw how valuable my education had been beyond the classroom.

Today, I am a nationally certified ASL interpreter, and there truly aren’t enough words to express how much I love what I do. In hindsight, I realize that Montclair and the FSHD program prepared me for this career in ways I never could have anticipated. My background in Family Science has given me a strong foundation in family systems, communication, and human development, which allows me to interpret with better accuracy, understanding, and empathy. Whether I’m interpreting in social work settings, IEP meetings, classrooms, medical appointments, or other community environments, I can step into those spaces with confidence because I understand the context behind the conversations. More importantly though, my education taught me to recognize that every individual comes with their own story, family, and lived experiences. That perspective allows me to approach each interpreting assignment not simply as a language professional, but as another human being connecting with others through communication.

Perhaps the most meaningful part of my career is that it allows me to give back to the Deaf community that has given so much to me. Growing up as a CODA, my parents gave me the incredible gift of American Sign Language and Deaf culture. Every day that I interpret, I feel as though I am honoring that gift by helping bridge communication and ensuring that Deaf individuals have equal access to the world around them.

My advice to current students is: it’s okay not to have everything figured out. I remember feeling overwhelmed as graduation approached, wondering what job I would have. Looking back, I realize that while we often make our own plans, life has a way of unfolding differently and sometimes even better than we could have imagined. Take it one day at a time and trust the process. Enjoy the journey, stay open to new opportunities, and know that you’ll end up where you’re meant to be, even if the path looks different than you expected.

Remember that you are more than your career. The work you do matters, but so does who you are outside of what you do. Take care of yourself, nurture your relationships, pursue the things that bring you joy, and allow yourself to simply be human. The people you serve and work alongside will ultimately receive the best version of you when you show up as a whole person and not just the title.
 

Family Science & Human Development Newsletter | September 2026