Sign language interpretation is not a college major you see every day, but for Matt DeCesaro, sophomore Sign Language Interpretation (SLI) major, it is what he always wanted to do.
DeCesaro's interest in sign language emerged from a lack of interest in any other second language while in high school.
“I really wanted to try something out-of-the-box” DeCesaro said, and knowing people who were interpreters helped him make the decision to pursue sign language not only in high school, but in college as well.
A graduate of Pinkerton High School, DeCesaro wanted to find a good program for American Sign Language (ASL) and discovered UNH Manchester has one of the best. After taking a year off after graduating high school, DeCesaro came to UNH Manchester and found that the community was more than he could have ever asked for.
“I wasn’t ready coming into college,” DeCesaro said. “Having people just embrace me and feel like this is where I need to be…is definitely a key turning point.”
The SLI community within UNH Manchester was a key factor in making DeCesaro feel at home. They encouraged him to keep pushing through his studies, working at difficult things.
DeCesaro is a member of the ASL club, a greeter at the UNH Manchester front desk and a helper in the Dean’s office. Getting involved, in both the SLI and UNH Manchester communities, was due to the move to the new building. He needed to be on campus more and decided to get involved with the side of the school that he hadn't tapped into in his first semester.
DeCesaro has goals for his next couple years here: more involvement opportunities, more SLI events and just being one of the many students that everyone knows.
DeCesaro is currently the only male in the SLI program, which mirrors the national trend of the majority of interpreters being women. He said it can be a lot of pressure since he stands out, but that the Deaf community is always excited to see a future interpreter.
“Every person I talk to, I show that I am in the sign language interpretation program, get super ecstatic,” DeCesaro said. “It’s a happy feeling to know that I am wanted here.”
DeCesaro's favorite part about being an SLI major? "Everything"– no joke. His fellow students, the professors and the Deaf community – they are all important to him and make this program special.
“The professors are amazing and they know exactly what they need to teach you, because it is their language and they use it daily,” DeCesaro said.
If you are on the fence about pursuing the SLI program or taking an ASL class, DeCesaro says “go for it.” Sharing his own experience, DeCesaro noted that he took the initial interest slow – he had a feeling that it could either work out or not.
“I fell in love with it because it is a beautiful language,” DeCesaro said.
With such passion for the SLI major and the ASL community, DeCesaro will surely make an impact on both those communities and UNH Manchester.
