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Hello there!
Hello there!
Making my "Leadership Autobiography" as our final project in the Program for Intensive English has enabled me to reflect on my personal history, identify moments of growth during challenging times, and better understand my aspirations for the future and how to achieve them. One realization that stands out is that I have accomplished a lot to be proud of, and that I am only 21 years old with a world of opportunities ahead.
I invite you to see my work and look at my core values and the skills I have been learning through my life, that I consider are helpful for a successful leader.
Mathematics Olympiads
Mathematics Olympiads
At the age of 14, I achieved a significant milestone by reaching the highest level of the Mathematics Olympiads - the national level - after participating in the competition for several years. My school and parents provided the necessary support for me to travel and take the test.
During that trip, I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the country and learn about their diverse cultures. It was a memorable experience because I connected with individuals who shared similar aspirations and a strong desire to make a positive impact in the world. Many of them were not typical teenagers, but rather people who were passionate about learning and pursuing their dreams. Today, most of them are successfully pursuing their careers, traveling the world, and making significant contributions in their respective fields. This experience opened my eyes to a world of endless possibilities, and I was determined to participate in the competition again despite any criticisms. I continued to participate in the Olympiads, making friends and living that experience again until my final year of high school. Even today, I remain good friends with many of the students I met during those competitions.
As I gained experience, my math teachers at school recommended that I help younger students with their Olympiad studies. This was my first experience of attempting to explain mathematical concepts in a way that was easy to understand and engaging. I was determined to make the material interesting and fun for them, with the hope that they could also experience the joy of competing at the national level. I can still vividly recall the surprised and fascinated expression on their faces when I taught them the Pythagorean theorem.
Later on, I began to offer private tutoring sessions to children from other schools. One time, I even received a request from a primary school to coach a girl who aspired to participate in the international Olympiads. It was a very formative experience for me, as I sharpened my teaching skills and developed a stronger sense of empathy. Through this experience, I learned to listen more attentively to my students, to exercise patience, while having fun teaching.
Ex-olympic contributions
Ex-olympic contributions
When I was adapting to the demands of university-level coursework, I received an invitation to assist with the coordination of the Mathematical Olympiad examinations. I eagerly accepted the opportunity and began to take on an increasingly active role in the process, planning and executing engaging activities for participants. I was also given the opportunity to explain the solutions to the problems after the test, which was a challenging task given the children's impressive abilities. Nevertheless, I gained valuable experience in managing large groups and was honored to contribute to the success of the Olympiad.
"I sharpened my teaching skills and developed a stronger sense of empathy. Through this experience, I learned to listen more attentively to my students, to exercise patience, while having fun teaching."
Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
Throughout my adolescence, the Olympiads and popular science books played a significant role in my life. I developed a deep interest in physics and began having aspirations of studying the subject in college. With the money I earned from my classes, I was able to purchase my own telescope, which magnified my passion for astronomy. I also began to attend weekly meetings at GOCO, an amateur astronomers' group.
Biology Olympiads
Biology Olympiads
In addition to my participation in the Mathematics Olympiads, I also engaged in the Biology Olympiads for three years. The appealing aspect of these competitions was that they were conducted in teams of three integrants. Our genetics instructor, a dedicated and inspiring teacher, was strongly helpful in our preparation of the exam material. However, in the last year, one of our team members was unable to attend the national-level competition, leaving only two of us to represent the team. Despite this setback, we decided to compete, and came within a hair's breadth of obtaining a medal, missing the threshold by only 1% of the total points. The experience taught me that facing challenges with perseverance can lead to significant accomplishments. It fixed in me a strong motivation to pursue my objectives, even when the circumstances are not the ideal.
"It fixed in me a strong motivation to pursue my objectives, even when the circumstances are not the ideal."
Choosing a path
Choosing a path
When the time came for me to decide on a career path, I found myself in a state of indecision. Being innately curious, I held a strong affinity for various fields, particularly those within the realm of natural sciences. In my final year of high school, I found myself weighing the possibilities of studying physics, astronomy, mathematics, genetics, and medicine. That year, Mauro, a professor at my current university, convinced me to pursue my studies in Tandil. Interestingly enough, I had met this professor at a Mathematics Olympiad event.
In the city of Tandil, the only available majors were mathematics and physics, and to be honest, I was intimidated by the thought of studying mathematics. Let's be honest, who among us truly comprehends the intricacies of what a mathematician does? So, I opted to join physics instead.
When it was time to move to Tandil, I embraced the opportunity with great enthusiasm. The possibility of living independently, commencing a new chapter in my life, forming new friendships, accomplishing personal autonomy, and strenghtening a sense of self-sufficiency were particularly appealing. Although the transition was not particularly arduous, it represented a significant milestone in my personal growth, allowing me to have novel insights into time management, decision-making, and the election of priorities. During my first year of university, I forged meaningful connections with classmates who remain my closest friends to this day. Additionally, I began a romantic relationship that has enriched my personal life and taught me valuable lessons about communication and mutual support.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, I faced the challenge of moving back to Olavarria indefinitely and attending virtual classes. I was disappointed with some of the Physics courses because I preferred a detailed understanding of mathematical concepts instead of simply memorizing formulas to solve problems. Consequently, I decided to take a mathematics course, and taking advantage of the time saved on commuting, I decided to take both courses simultaneously. Although I performed well that semester, the demanding workload left me feeling fatigued.
Some of my first friends in Physics.
"It represented a significant milestone in my personal growth, allowing me to have novel insights into time management, decision-making, and the election of priorities."
Hiking in Tandil with Sebastian and some of my classmates.
Being happy after finishing the term.
First years into Mathematics
First years into Mathematics
During the semester, I had the honor of being taught by Sebastian, one of my professors whom I hold in high regard. I am grateful for his unwavering support and guidance, which began even before I was into mathematics. Sebastian has consistently encouraged us to strive for excellence and to push ourselves to be our best version. In addition to his academic mentorship, he has also emphasized the importance of socializing and engaging in activities outside of Math, such as hiking and enjoying a beer with friends. This was a valuable reminder that there is more to life than just grades.
After 4 months, I was finally able to return to Tandil. Being back with my friends and boyfriend was a refreshing change and helped me be more productive. During that semester, I had the pleasure of meeting Guido, who turned out to be another excellent teacher. We have become friends since then and we enjoy gathering to eat and play computer games with my boyfriend. Guido is a role model for me as a highly skilled professional who later taught me that “every person possesses an intrinsic worth regardless of their accomplishments”. Both him and Sebastian pushed us to work hard and become well-prepared for the demands of real-world jobs after graduation. While we complained at the time, they were correct in their assessment that not everyone is cut out for studying mathematics, and those who want to earn the degree must work hard to develop the necessary skills.
In the subsequent year, while continuing with virtual classes, I opted to immerse entirely in the field of mathematics. I believe that this discipline offers a unique and valuable perspective on the world, applicable to almost every domain. As someone with a strong curiosity and a diverse range of interests, I find it beneficial to possess a broad and comprehensive understanding of various subjects. Nonetheless, during that year, I experienced a significant setback while attempting to pass a final exam in one of the fundamental math courses. Due to pandemic-induced anxiety, despite meticulous preparation, I struggled with the test and was awarded a failing grade. This outcome left me deeply demoralized, as I had previously maintained an excellent academic record and understood the importance of holding a high GPA for securing research scholarships. It took me a substantial amount of time to recover from this experience, as it felt like a profound personal loss. However, I eventually came to accept it as a minor setback, which taught me that despite one's best efforts, sometimes things do not go as planned. What is critical is remaining true to one's principles and continuing to persevere.
"There is more to life than just grades." "Despite one's best efforts, sometimes things do not go as planned. What is critical is remaining true to one's principles and continuing to persevere."
Never stop Teaching
Never stop Teaching
During that period, I also took on the role of a teaching assistant for a first-year class. Teaching virtually presented a significant challenge, but I was able to establish a strong connection with my students. Through this experience, I developed my time management skills and learned how to balance my academic aspirations with work and personal life. I am proud of the progress my students made despite the disconcerting conditions. Some of them even invited me for pizza or drinks, and recommended me to other students for private lessons. With this, I got many clients and was able to improve my home working environment by purchasing equipment such as a microphone and graphics tablet. Building on this momentum, I proposed the idea of conducting an Olympiad workshop. Together with colleagues from the faculty, we planned and executed the course over several months, meeting weekly and guiding students through different mathematical problems and encouraging them to become friends, talk, share their ideas, and think together.
Another activity that has allowed me to further develop my skills and knowledge is the science popularization program called "EntusiasMate con la Ciencia". As part of this program, I have had the opportunity to work beside some of my university colleagues to show the wonders of mathematics and physics to the public. Through this initiative, I have honed my ability to communicate complex concepts in a simplified manner and to create engaging activities that are enjoyable for people of all ages. The experience has been rewarding as we have received positive feedback from the community, and it has been gratifying to observe the public's enthusiasm towards science.
Making square bubbles in the square of Tandil as part of an "EntusiasMate" project.
Taking the Neuromatch Academy course on Deep Learning.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
In addition to my teaching assistant role, I took a Python course that sparked my interest in problem-solving through computer programming. This recent curiosity led me to apply for a scholarship in deep learning at a computational neuroscience academy, despite my limited knowledge of machine learning. During informal conversations with Guido over dinner, I gained a basic understanding of artificial intelligence, which essentially is exposing computers to millions of examples to develop a general understanding of the situation in order to solve a problem. To my surprise, I was awarded a $1800 scholarship for the Neuromatch deep learning course, which brought together students from various countries. Despite being the youngest and only woman in the group, I contributed significantly from a mathematical perspective and was even able to work on a project with my classmates for three weeks. Although the course was intense and conducted in English, I received feedback from my classmates that my sense of humor and sweet disposition lightened the mood and made a positive impact on the group.
Looking to the future
Looking to the future
One of the most recent challenges I encountered was taking the final exam for Probability and Statistics. Although I had previously developed effective strategies for managing my nerves when speaking in front of large groups of strangers, the presence of Sebastian, someone I knew and respected, made me anxious about potentially letting him down. Despite my comprehensive understanding of the course material, I found myself at a loss for words, and my mind was a tangled mess. Regrettably, I barely passed with the minimum score. This experience served as an important lesson that regardless of one's level of preparation, self-confidence is an indispensable attribute. Although fear may be present in such circumstances, it is critical to overcome such obstacles, set aside self-doubt, and move forward with a positive attitude. In light of this experience, I dedicated myself to reflect on how to enhance my self-confidence.
After an unsuccessful attempt the previous year, I decided to apply again for the Friends of Fulbright scholarship, despite having little hope. The scholarship is highly competitive and difficult to obtain. However, to my surprise, a few days after submitting my application I was invited for a final interview and informed that I had been shortlisted along with 40 other applicants out of a total of ~700. I was extremely nervous at the time, as I did not want to miss this opportunity due to a similar situation as the final exam of Probability and Statistics. To overcome my anxiety, I listened to "Unstoppable" by Sia before entering the Zoom meeting, and addressed the challenge with determination. Today, I am grateful to say that I am writing this from Indianapolis as a grantee of the Friends of Fulbright scholarship.
In conclusion, my future holds many exciting opportunities. I am planning to publish a paper with a colleague in Michigan and finish a research project at my home university, which focuses on exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in the field of cardiology. As someone interested in both computer science and medicine, I find this project particularly exciting and challenging. While I am still exploring my options for after graduation, I am considering pursuing a leadership position in an important Tech company, as well as a PhD in AI. In addition, I hope to start a family in the future.
During my exchange program at IUPUI, I had the opportunity to observe a Women in STEM group in action, which has motivated me to start a similar group at my home university. By doing so, I hope to keep developing my organizational and leadership skills, and I believe that this group will benefit both its members and the community by providing a platform for women in STEM to connect, share ideas, and support each other. Overall, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had so far, and I am excited to continue to learn and grow both personally and professionally.
"Regardless of one's level of preparation, self-confidence is an indispensable attribute. Although fear may be present in such circumstances, it is critical to overcome such obstacles, set aside self-doubt, and move forward with a positive attitude."
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