Many of you who know me know that helping cats is my passion. I do a lot of TNR (trap, neuter, return) in the community, and would probably do more if I could manage it financially. In addition to TNR I also take in, rehabilitate, and foster friendly cats that I trap outside. I currently have 4 kittens I trapped in a nearby trailer park that are going to rescue in the next couple weeks that I have been working on getting healthy and social for the last couple months.
I have been struggling financially since I was laid off from my tech job in 2023. I work a couple of part time odd jobs but none of them are enough hours / pay well enough to easily pay bills every month. Ever since being laid off, I have been searching for a new and different career that would be a good match for my strengths and skills, as well as being able to support me financially.
I am happy to announce that I have found that new career; court reporting! I have decided to become a voice court reporter which is different from a stenographer. A voice court reporter repeats everything spoken during a given proceeding quietly into a special mask that connects to a computer and transcribes their dictation. After the proceeding, they spend several hours editing, proofreading, and creating an official verbatim transcription.
I have signed up for a 6 month online program where I'm currently attending 2 live classes a week and practicing everything I am learning several hours a day. After completing the course I will need to sign up for the National Certification Test which will make me a Certified Voice Reporter in every state. I will be able to work freelance or officially with the court. As a freelancer I will be able to work remotely part time, choose my own jobs / hours / schedule, and free up a lot of time and money to dedicate to helping cats. Once I pass the test and I am also a Notary Public, I will be able to start working in North Carolina.
I have created this SpotFund to help finance a portion of the program I signed up for as well as some upfront necessary equipment and software purchases, the testing fees and hotel stay for taking the test (which I would like to try and take in November in Nashville, as long as I feel ready, otherwise I will wait until next year), the class fee to become a Notary Public (which is required for court reporters in North Carolina), the application fee to become a notary, and the first couple months of payments on the monthly payment plan I signed up for through the program. The program allows you to make monthly payments towards the tuition cost for up to 24 months interest free. I have already acquired the deposit ($750) and I am hoping to raise funds for the September, October, November, and December payments.
I will breakdown some costs here.
Total Program Tuition: $6550
ExpressScribe Software: $139
RecordPad Software: $35
Microsoft Word: $120
Notary Public Course at Local Community College: $120.25
State of NC Notary Application: $50
Oath of office fee: $10
NVRA testing fees
In person written test: $160
Skills test: $185
Hotel stay in Nashville for 2 nights to take the test: $423
Monthly program payment September: $241
Monthly program payment October: $241
Monthly program payment November: $241
Monthly program payment December: $241
I am incredibly grateful for ANY support at all throughout this journey!
