Academia

A huge part of my life is academia. I was a Ph.D. student before I became a wife and a mother, so research, school, and teaching have been my fuel (and my primary source of income) for the past 8 years. I finally graduated from my Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from UCLA in June 2019, and let’s just say… I’m happy I’m done!

Juggling school, side-jobs, motherhood, wifehood (is that even a word?!), and a social life has proven to be a challenge, yet I was able to power through everything and make the most of the experience. I certainly would not be the person I am today without my graduate experience—heck, I wouldn’t even have met my husband, since both of us were Ph.D. students in the same department at UCLA—nor would I have the confidence to know that I can conquer and accomplish whatever I set my mind to. If being a mother while completing a Ph.D. has taught me anything it’s that women (and parents) possess a resilience and a strength that are fueled by our love for your children, and their love for us.

In this section of my blog I speak about my personal experience in academia, the rollercoaster of emotions that being a graduate student (+ parent) can generate, and the importance of finding a great mentor. I also discuss a couple of tips & tricks that have helped me SO MUCH along the way.

As an important chapter of my life comes to an end, I reflect in what it means to be a woman who juggles motherhood and a career. All I can say is that it’s not easy! The number of PhD students with children is low; and the number of mothers is even lower due to a system that makes women choose between being a mother and having a career. Apparently, society thinks that we are incapable of being mothers and working women, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because men created these misconceptions in the first place. 
I cherish being a mother more than anything in this world. But I also value the importance of work, not for the money or the prestige, but for its ethical value. When I found out I was pregnant, I vowed to bring my child up in a neutral, non/stereotypical environment. When I found out I was having a boy (and then another boy), I knew I was going to have to work a little harder to accomplish that. I promised to show my children that women work as hard as men; that their role in society is just as important; that fathers can be stay-at-home-dads; and that a human being’s value is not dictated by superimposed gender roles. 
I’m going to teach my boys to be proud of me for being a hard-working woman and mother; to be proud of their Hispanic heritage even when racism is rampant; to treat everyone as their equal. If I had had a daughter, I would have taught her the same exact things. 
To all the working mamas out there, stay strong, believe in yourself, and never feel obligated to choose between your family and your career. We are strong enough to do both!
Ph: @theflorentinemom