To be a Latin-American Postgraduate student: With a great opportunity comes great responsibility.

Those who have the chance of study abroad might share with me the feeling that it is an amazing experience. We get to know new people, new ways of doing things. On the other hand sometimes dealing with cold/rainy weather and not so tasty food (sad but true).

Besides this experience, as Latin American postgraduate student, this also represents a great opportunity that comes with great responsibility (Spiderman mode on), but it is true, and you might wonder why.

Well, from my perspective, I consider that studying abroad is a great adventure and experience. Moreover,I also think about how relevant for my professional formation is to link my research to the problems that my country faces. I know, I cannot save the world, but I am sure that we all can help to solve a social problem in our countries.

Especially those receiving funding from their government. Let us remember that our countries try to enhance their innovative and competitive performance creating a pool of highly educated people. For this reason scholarships programs exist. Thus, now it is our turn to see how can we contribute. Having a postgraduate degree per se does not mean much. We have to put knowledge to work, and what could be better than using it to solve problems around us.

The political and social contexts that Latin American countries face demand the active involvement of young perspectives and actions. For this reason, if you are having the opportunity of studying abroad, whether or not funded by your government, your ideas can really help in approaching a problem in your community.

If you cannot orientate your research towards a specific problem in your country, there are options; for instance, education is an issue in all Latin American countries, maybe you can teach to those that do not have the chance to go to school. Your contribution can change the direction of their lives. Or may be you can help communities to develop more efficient and environment-friendly process in their agricultural and daily activities. –There are as many possibilities as you can imagine.

Harness your capabilities and your opportunities studying abroad, what you learn may be the solution to other´s problems. Lets all together make the difference.