Submitted by Kathryn Sweeney, CSR, RPR, CRR

MY CRR EXPERIENCE

I remember being back in school, right at the end of my theory classes, running into the kitchen, dropping down on the floor and crying like a baby. “Mom,” I said, “I can’t write ‘Shale is hard.’ I can’t do it. I’m going to quit!”

My mom, believing I was a foolish child – with which I now agree – gave just the right amount of support, tissues and stern words for me to get up and try again.

That situation occurred over and over again with the various speed tests through the years, so it seemed only fitting that mom accompany me to Hartford, Connecticut in May for the Certified Realtime Reporter exam.

Upon arriving at the hotel Friday evening, I broke out the machine, laptop and tape recorder and started practicing – again! After every five-minute take, mom would ask if I got it. If I answered yes, she’d say, “You got that? Wow, that was a tough one!” If I answered no, she’d say, “Well, that was really fast. That probably won’t be on the test anyway.” Even though she really didn’t know the difference either way.

When I came upon the 200 wpm literary take about a tropical rain forest and the Sumatran wilderness, and almost threw the tape recorder and myself out the 12th floor window, she suggested we go out for dinner. Of course, we ate at a nice Italian restaurant. (You need those carbohydrates!)

We got back to the room about 9 o’clock, plenty of time for some more practice while mom lay on the bed imbibing some wine and listening. After one or two glasses, every take got funnier and funnier to her.

Again, she provided just the right amount of comic relief, ego-boosting and encouragement.

The next morning we woke up early for yet some more practice – not that I could sleep anyway. Heading off to breakfast, I was turning a little green and could only eat a bite of scrambled eggs and a slice of bacon. Two women sitting next to us overheard our conversation and saw that I wasn’t eating, and from that figured out I was there for the CRR exam.

They made it a point to come over and tell me I’d do just fine. They sat down with us at our table, had a cup of coffee, and it was then I learned that Joanne and Diane had been through this before. They said the test was attainable, but with the nerves and the pressure, it wasn’t easy sailing for anyone. They allayed my fears about what to expect, and I felt ten times better.

When we set off to the school where the test was going to be held, just a block or so from the hotel, mom helped me carry my things. She got to know a few more court reporters, as well as meet Diane and Joanne again in the hall while we were waiting, and then gave me one more good-luck hug before I went into the testing room.

As I was setting up, I looked out toward the doorway and saw a woman come up to my mom and ask her if she was going in. Mom said, “No, I’m just here for my daughter.” The woman then said, “I wish my mom was here.” Mom said, “Why, do you want a hug too?” “Oh, yeah!”

I looked around the room to see if anyone could answer my question, “Hey, who’s hugging my mom?” No one knew. Oh, well. That’s just the way mom is.

Well, I blew the test away, just like mom said I would.

Now, would I have passed if she wasn’t there with me? Who knows. Did the other woman who hugged my mom pass? Who knows. But that would be cool.

All I know is it helped having my mom there – a lot. Diane, Joanne and my mother kept me calm and assured me that I had worked hard enough to deserve this.

Should you bring your mom to your next test? Whomever you feel can give you the support and distraction you need, sure, take that person with you. It can be a minivacation. Have fun and bond. I did.

Since having spent a year and a half in preparation for the CRR exam and actually passing it, I have an empty feeling that can only be filled with the challenge of something else. Maybe the RMR? Hey, mom, are you busy?