Lara Duarte (Portugal, WK 85-90)

Alumni Interview

What years did you attend Waterford Kamhlaba? (What forms/year group?)

1984-1990, Form 1 to IB2.

Please tell us what you have done or are doing at the moment? (e.g. what you studied and what field you are currently working in)

My studies are in several, interrelated fields: Translation Studies (specialising in Legal and Business Translation), Language and Literature, and Conference Interpreting. I am currently a Senior Researcher at the Catholic University in Lisbon, Portugal, and Vice-President of AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters).

Could you tell us what inspired you to pursue your career path.

My love of languages, words, the plasticity of lexicon in use, or “mental gymnastics,” as I like to think of it.

Did Waterford in any way play a role in your career path choice? If yes: then what has that role been.

It most certainly did. I studied English, French and Spanish at WK. The language teachers were extraordinary at imparting their love of their respective subjects. I can still remember my DR MRS VANDERTRAMP (irregular French verbs). One particular English Literature exchange teacher from Canada, whose name I cannot for the life of me remember, gifted me the love of Emily Dickinson, for which I will forever be grateful. She’s the reason I have a PhD in North-American Literature today. To paraphrase Dickinson, doges surrendered and diadems dropped the day I first read one of her poems.

What advice would you have for aspiring students who would want to be involved in similar areas of expertise?

It’s not the easiest of fields to break into or one of the highest paying fields when you’re first starting out, so make sure you’re passionate about the choices you make. An MA professor once told me I was too passionate about the author I chose to do my thesis on and that meant I might not be objective enough. Total nonsense! Truly loving your subject-matter in no way diminishes your ability to be scientifically objective when you have to be. Furthermore, it helps you stay the course when the going gets tough, as it is wont to every once in a while. Whatever you do, don’t fall into a rut: choose cross-cutting areas of study so that you have multiple career options. Most of all: read, read, read! Wallow in words.

Do you have any fond memories of Waterford? Could you possibly share one with us and could we also ask you to send us one or two pictures of your time at WK?

I have far too many fond memories of Waterford to list. I loved sitting on a rock there used to be next to the field, looking out across the vast expanse of green and up at the mountains behind the school. The library. The swimming galas and sports days. The 24-hour runs. The socials. The camaraderie in the hallways as we made a mad dash to the next class. The tuck shop. Assemblies. Even the never-ending monotony of school lunches on metal trays, rudely interrupted by guffaws of laughter unleashed by the usual suspects at meal times.

Most embarrassing moment at Waterford?

My first kiss... outside the staff room! As I emerged out of the warm, fuzzy daze induced by that oh-so important of kisses, I caught sight of two teachers gazing mouths agape through the staff room window at the spectacle of “Miss Goody Two Shoes” (that would be me – and I was painfully shy to boot!) in the arms of an older boy. The horror!

WK crush?

DK first, who didn’t even know I existed. Dudley, who did.

What’s your favorite ’90s jam?

90’s? Tsk. Tsk... I’m an 80’s girl through and through. Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” was released when I was at WK. Back then we were all listening to Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Depeche Mode, Rick Astley, Belinda Carlisle, A-Ha, Culture Club, the Pet Shop Boys, etc, etc. There were far too may favourite tunes to whittle down to one!

Who was in your WK #squad (friend group)?

My first squad (the first years): Gugu-Lisa Zwane, Sanjee da Silva and Andrea Quaye. My second squad (IB): Gillian Turnbull, Malango Mughogho and Lara Clarkson. Love them all.

Favourite teacher/Most hilarious teacher?

I honestly loved many of the teachers. In the language department: the O’Connors, Mick Reed, Rod de Vletter, Hilda Brandt. Mr Govindjee and Martin Russell, History teachers. Neville da Silva, my Biology teacher. The most hilarious? How can anyone ever forget Mr Malaza’s, “If you don’t behave I shall pounce on you like thunder!

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