Well, every year on this day, I reflect on what this milestone has meant for my life. It was—and still is—a significant achievement. According to the Brazilian government, Brazil has only ten doctorate holders per 100,000 inhabitants, far below the OECD average of 30. I was fortunate to receive fellowships to complete my PhD and conduct research abroad, but I also worked incredibly hard to make it happen.
Yet, finishing my PhD during a period of challenges in the educational system made the achievement feel bittersweet. At that time, I made the difficult decision to step away from it, for many reasons – if you have time and want to know, let’s have some coffee.

For three years, I explored, created, and healed. I spent time outside academia, growing in new ways.

Then, on February 25, 2022 (yes, that same day, I have evidence), I decided to return.

Education is at the heart of transformation, and every day, I reaffirm why I came back and where I’m headed. Achievements are not just about titles; they are about continuous progress, about showing up, working hard, and seizing opportunities.
As I move forward, I embrace each new milestone as the start of another phase in the journey and trust that each battle will make sense in time.