I was born 35 years ago in a rural community of just a few dozen inhabitants in Michoacán, Mexico. I was fortunate that my parents encouraged me to be curious, and read books, many books! When I was a child, my favorite physical activity was climbing trees. When I was not reading, I was climbing trees.
The truth is that I was very shy and sensitive, I cried easily (I still do). In kindergarten, I was bullied, and these situations led me to be a very shy girl. I would rather spend my time with a book than with the other children in the garden. Over time, more children joined, and I finally had friends! To that 4-year-old girl, I would say that it is not necessary to be alone. There are always people who share your interests, it’s just a matter of searching! When I grew up, I decided to study in Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, with about 20 million people. It was quite a change, going from my small town to the big city. It was a real challenge.
In college, I wanted to study something that would “help people”. I thought that medicines were essential for many people, so I studied chemistry to make medicines. Later, I understood that there are many ways to help. So, I decided to study the way decisions are made that affect us all, not just those who take medication. Because at the end of the day, what good is there in a lot of chemists making a lot of medicines if sick people can’t get them?
My message to all the girls who are growing up is to think about all the possibilities that come to mind, explore, have fun, learn about them! And if one day you decide to change your path, professional or personal, it will be a good decision, the best for you. You can do whatever you propose!
