Guest Blogger: Natasha Lugo-Escobar, PhD: Director, NIH Academy Enrichment Program (NAEP), OITE
Part of the "Voices of OITE"
Raised by a single mother, I grew up on a Caribbean Island 100 miles long x 35 miles wide: Puerto Rico. Boricuas, as we identify ourselves, feel proud of our cultural heritage and history: a blend of Taino, Spanish, and African traditions. Our crystalline beaches, culinary experiences, year-round tropical weather, beautiful architecture, vibrant music and dance, and charming people all give us a rich and diverse uniqueness. Though we are a territory of the US and considered American citizens, it surely felt different when I moved to “The States”. People made assumptions about my identity because of my looks, and my strong accent would prompt questions like, “Where are you from?” While finishing my PhD thesis at the Universidad de Puerto Rico, an opportunity came to pursue postdoctoral training at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the NIH. Having collaborated previously with the PI, I thought it would be a chance to change my research focus, learn new techniques, and open future employment options. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would leave my island to embrace a new life away from my home. Yet, I learned a lot about myself during this life transition. Here are some of the lessons I learned.
Be open to unexpected opportunities. Taking a leap of faith at the chance to do something completely different in a new place away from home opened doors for me. While doing my postdoctoral training, I was still figuring out what career I wanted to pursue. I knew I didn’t want to run a lab and that I missed interacting with and mentoring students. I took advantage of OITE resources and events to explore career options and develop the skills to be successful. Little did I know that a casual conversation at one of those events would change the course of my career and future. I learned about a detail opportunity at OITE to gain experience in science program management and work with students at all educational levels. Once again, I took advantage of an opportunity I hadn’t expected. Fast forward 10+ years and here I am, directing programs where I can do what I love: mentoring and empowering summer and postbac trainees to reach their goals.
Let go of your imposter fears. I know this is easier said than done. When I moved here, I felt different: judged because of my accent, doubting my education because of where I came from, and thinking I wasn’t good enough for NIH. It was a struggle feeling that I had to prove myself ALL the time. It wasn’t until I heard the term “imposter fears” that I understood the feelings I was experiencing and, more importantly, that I could learn how to overcome them. I participated in the OITE Resilience Program and small group discussions to learn strategies to navigate these feelings (I still work on this) and develop the resilience skills to begin to let go of my own fears.
Find your family away from home. Resilience = people + process + preparation. This is so true! After growing up so close to family and friends, I felt lonely when I moved to Maryland. Yet, I found genuine and caring peers who had experienced similar circumstances and welcomed me into their network. I met many of my closest friends at NIH SACNAS Chapter events. This is where I found my community: where others spoke my language, talked about shared traditions and culture, and ultimately became my family and support system.
Get out of your comfort zone. Sometimes we are afraid to do things that we don’t feel comfortable with or think we are not good at, but we can all develop the skills to excel by practicing and using the right resources. I was terrified of public speaking and had a fixed mindset that made me believe I would never be good at it. I remember avoiding and dreading speaking in public. What got me through it? Luckily, I talked to people who acknowledged my fears and encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone by finding ways to practice speaking at small events, in a more familiar environment. After lots of advanced preparation, practice, and feedback, I gained a boost in confidence, and now I enjoy the chance to speak. You can always improve. Having a growth mindset is the key.
Believe in yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to believe in ourselves and know that we are here because of our merits and not purely luck. Often, those imposter fears and cognitive distortions get control of our mind and undermine our confidence. I had many insecurities about my abilities. When things didn’t go well in lab, I doubted myself as a scientist and compared myself to others. For a long time, I didn’t share my feelings because of the fear of what others might think, and I struggled on my own. Yet, when I found people with whom I could talk about my doubts, whose opinion I trusted, and who lifted me up, they helped me see my value and accomplishments.
I might have left the island, but the island never left me! I proudly identify myself as Puerto Rican no matter where I go. I learned to embrace my accent and love sharing our traditions and culture with others. By taking chances, creating community, and believing in ourselves, we can all find a place where we are valued and appreciated for who we are.
