Sandra Delph's job requires her to be on call 24 hours a day and to drive more than 40,000 miles a year. But she loves it.

"The best part is the feeling of public service, I think, and caring about people and being able to interact with them," she said.

Delph is a sign language interpreter for the deaf. She's been signing for 17 years but became a full-time interpreter four years ago.

She was inspired to become an interpreter after attending a Sandi Patty concert.

"We were seated in the deaf section. An interpreter was 6, 10 feet from us, and my son would say, 'Mom, look at it!' '' she explained.

"I went home that night and in praying, just really felt that this is what God wanted me to do."

Delph will go to any place that needs an interpreter:

"Doctors' offices, hospitals mainly. I do weddings and funerals, because I am also a minister," she said.

The hardest part for Delph is "wanting to be sure that you're communicating accurately and making sure that you understand them correctly so there's no misunderstanding. But with any language, you want to make sure that you're understanding each other."

Delph understands that some people may feel uncomfortable around the deaf, but she advises that they still should be friendly.

"Maybe you can't speak to them, but a smile is the same in any language."

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Cameron Johnson, 16.

REPORTERS: Patrick Beyer, 12; Zack Jernigan, 12; Trey Johnson, 13; and Courtney Sampson, 13.