“Comunicação para salvar o mundo!”  (Communication to save the world!)

Since I was a child, I knew I would become a journalist. There was no other path that could fulfill my heart and soul the way this career does. I remember watching TV and dreaming of one day becoming like William Bonner or Glória Maria, two Brazilian journalists I consider my main references. At the same time, I was aware that my dream felt distant from my reality. Except for my cousin, who will be the first PhD in my family, none of my relatives had completed high school. Most of them had not even finished elementary school, except for my mother.

Given this context, I knew that completing my studies would not be just a personal goal. It would be an achievement for my family and also for my community, where many people did not have the same opportunities. I do not believe in meritocracy, and that is not up for debate, but I knew I would have to work harder than most just to have a single chance. During this journey, I met many “angels” who supported me in difficult times and invested in my education. One of them was my mother’s employer, Dr. Lígia Amaral, who paid for my English course. That is why I can write this article today and have my story connected with Global Nomads, but we will be there in a moment.

Not everyone knows that in Brazil we only have three years of high school, and unfortunately, public education here suffers from constant cuts and setbacks. I mention this because, during high school, I faced two major challenges: my school did not have enough resources to prepare me for the university entrance exams, and a brutal pandemic that took two years of our lives. I felt anxious and isolated. I thought my dream was flying away, but one day, while browsing the internet, I found the Content Creation Lab (CCL) Internship Program and everything changed.

“Encontrando um novo caminho” (Finding a New Way)

Back in 2021, the program proposed creating a film and media course focused on how we engage with social media and produce content. It was my first professional experience, and I could not have started this journey in a better place. I had the chance to build meaningful connections that I still talk to. I expanded my understanding of global issues and began developing an essential skill in journalism: listening deeply to people.

Before starting the internship, we took the “Mindshifts” course. Even though I consider myself someone who tries hard to avoid prejudice, I was born and raised in a society structured around bias. That was an important lesson: never assume you already know everything. There is always something new to learn and improve within ourselves.

This experience confirmed that my dream was still alive and gave me the strength to keep pursuing it. This cultural internship holds a special place in my heart. I encountered diverse perspectives on the same issues, gained confidence to create and design, and worked in an empathetic environment that respected my limits and genuinely cared about me.

I still remember the first time I had to lead a team meeting on my own. English is not my first language. We speak Portuguese here, you know? So I was very nervous. I wondered if they would understand me or if I would be able to understand different accents. But everyone was so open and welcoming that communication became natural. In fact, I discovered that one of my coordinators spoke Portuguese and had lived in Brazil, which made our connection even more special. Together, the CCL team and I built a beautiful relationship and I believe that is why we are still in touch today.

After completing this first course, I joined two more programs: one focused on developing a game around the question “Why is the Central Valley Sinking?” and another centered on accessibility and neurodivergence. Once again, I learned about topics I had never imagined exploring, such as subsidence, North American Indigenous populations, California’s geography and river basins. However, what impacted me the most was accessibility.

Learning how to design for the margins was transformative. For the first time, I was on the other side. I was no longer just a marginalized person receiving content that did not fully include me, I was creating content with accessibility in mind, thinking about how to make it as inclusive as possible. This experience completely changed the way I see the world.

“Mas, e agora?” (So, What Now?)

It is hard to believe that I am almost a journalist. I have just one year and a half left before graduating. Global Nomads has been part of my journey for so long, they have watched me grow and shape my path toward who I want to become.

As a poet and multidisciplinary artist, cultural journalism is a natural extension of who I am. More recently, I have also discovered community journalism as something that truly completes me and allows me to serve the people I care about. Currently, I work in both areas. I am also part of a project called AfirmaSUS, where I learn a lot about health and science communication.

In addition, I have been writing more articles and academic work, especially about Romani culture. Graduation is just one step in my educational journey. I want to pursue a PhD and I am determined to make that happen.

In the meantime, I want to create spaces where I can both teach and learn about community communication. I dream of developing a course for people in my neighborhood, helping them use social media to produce informative content while also becoming more aware of the digital environment. And of course, I want to continue telling the stories of people whose voices are often unheard, and to keep learning from the many perspectives that shape this complex and beautiful world.