Thread by @rominabarreto_

Thank you IWS for raising my voice 🤗
Hello everyone! I'm Romina Barreto from Uruguay, a small country in South America...
You may have hear of us because of soccer, Mujica, civil rights, clean energy, beautiful beaches or many others things!
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

My hometown is called Tacurembó and it's located in the north of the country.
I was lucky to grow up in a loving and caring family that since I have memory encouraged me to follow my dreams!
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

Let me tell you about my first incursion in research... For one of my chemistry class in high school was mandatory to do a research project 🙈 I can not explain how much I tried to avoid it...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

back then I was mostly interested in maths and only maths and i couldn't even imagine how start a research project...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

Surprisingly after a few months working on a clean energy project I could definitely said found my passion in research! 👩🏼‍🔬🧪🤩
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

We won the first prize at the provincial level with our project and went straight to national...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

But life is not always that good... At national level we got a huge: NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
And being rejected, in a way I considered unfair, made me fight! I wanted to be heard, I wanted to be at least respected...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

And that passion I showed was key to opens the doors that will start the real change my life...
I need to mention my first mentor @gustavoriestra that believed in me, help and guide me to find new great opportunities 🤩
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

After that a lot of accomplishments and challenges came!
Few months later I got a call saying we were selected to go to present our project in an international exhibitions of projects... in São Paulo, Brazil!
Meaning first time in a ✈️🤩
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

I started to volunteer for the @Plan_Ceibal giving computers to the kids in publics schools in my hometown 🥰
Got selected as a youth ambassador from 🇺🇾. A program that opened more doors and gave me more opportunities and lots of friends @usembassyMVD
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

The moment to move to University arrived... I was about to be the first person in my family to attend college 😱🤩🥳 I moved to the Capital, the big city 😰
First challenge: learn how to use the public transport! (In my hometown we did not have)
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

I started my studies in Biological Sciences in my dear FCien ♥️ @FcienUdelar.
I can not even described how hard it was at the beginning... Luckily I found some great friends that made me feel better and adapt to University and the big city.
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

But need to say: university was hard, was a big change that I did not expect... took me tears and many months to understand how it worked and how to succeed...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

I found love in the second semester of my first year! By accident (I wanted to chose another class but it was full) I ended up in a neuroscience class and it was love at first sight 😍
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

Every year of college was different and had its own difficulties... but with a lot of perseverance and patience I got to the end! I defended my undergrad thesis surrounded by family and friends and was AMAZING 🤩
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

Right after I started my master in Neurosciences in @PEDECIBA and @IPMontevideo... and there i found myself really enjoying what I was studying/working on for the first time 🤩🙌🏻
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

Got a scholarship to do an internship at @Inserm Paris to learn more about molecular biology! This experience made me realized the amazing science that we can do... And made me trust more in myself. And of course I got IN LOVE WITH PARIS 🥰
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

I went back home super motivated! Worked really hard and got a master scholarship from @anii. Later in my master another opportunity arrived and I got a scholarship from @PEDECIBA to do an internship in @UlaVal to finish my master thesis...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

In ULaval I got access to more technology and mouse models, and got to learn a LOT! 🤯🤩
Never imagine what would happen with my life after this internship in Quebec City...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

First shock in QC: spring... snow all over 🥶 snow storm 🙈 I was definitely not expecting that!
In the lab all went well and I found my place :)
I got an offer to come to do my PhD here... and you can imagine my answer 😅
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

Moving to a different country was way more difficult than I ever imagined, I couldn't even explain the feelings of the first weeks... I can only tell that I was willing to do my luggage and go back everyday...
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

But I didn't, I gave myself time, I tried to be nice with me... and after a few weeks, got to meet the right people, that today I get to call my friends, that start making everything easy.... ♥️
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

After I just finish my first year of PhD I got the doctoral scholarship from @frqs !
This gave me lots of new and good energy to start the second year!
Did my pre-doc exam and pass it! 🥳🥳🥳🥳
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

I got several scholarships, but I wanna make it clear: I applied to many more and did not get them!!
Each time we get a refusal it's hard... but we just need to keep trying. And ask for help! There are a lot of people willing to help us out there!
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

I will not lie, doing a PhD is really hard... it's like constantly being on a roller coaster 🎢... all the time 😬
And again, my best strategy is to be surrounded by supportive, loving people with tons of patience 😅
And ask for help!!
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network

And always remember, you are a person before a PhD, we have only one life... Enjoy the ride 😉
I finish my thread with a picture of my family and my people here in Québec... without them my story wouldn't be the same 🤗
#VoicesIWS @IWS_Network