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It’s @BlackInNeuro’s #BlackNeuroMentors day
I love talking about mentorship so here’s thread 1/2:
A
on how I decided to be the @Beyonce of neuro & how to find your own Scientific Beyoncé 
I love talking about mentorship so here’s thread 1/2: A
on how I decided to be the @Beyonce of neuro & how to find your own Scientific Beyoncé
But first a backstory:
#BlackNeuroMentors on April 17 2019, I had a committee meeting & it sucked lol I wasn’t prepared for it mentally, emotionally, literally
‘Twas all over the place & I left feeling like
#BlackNeuroMentors on April 17 2019, I had a committee meeting & it sucked lol I wasn’t prepared for it mentally, emotionally, literally
‘Twas all over the place & I left feeling like
BUT If you recall on April 17 2019 Beyonce released #Homecoming (and if you haven’t watched it by now idk what you’re doing)
And #BlackNeuroMentors when I tell you, I FELT THAT. I watched it 3 times in one night & reflected on my life, my work, my passion all while singing/dancing & eating Chinese food
I thought about what I wanted & needed to gtfo of grad school (lolol)/excel in the next step of my #BlackJourneyToNeuro & #BlackNeuroMentors
I realized that I needed Beyoncéher brilliance is that when watching #Homecoming she didn’t make me want to be her but instead the BEST version of myself.
her brilliance is that when watching #Homecoming she didn’t make me want to be her but instead the BEST version of myself.
When I thought about the people I looked up to in neuro (at the time- this list has grown) - @MichelleJoLo1 @bjmarlin @FaundezLab I realized they do the same thing
) - @MichelleJoLo1 @bjmarlin @FaundezLab I realized they do the same thing
They are the Beyoncé’s of their chosen fields. Their excellence as (official/unofficial/dont know I exist but am heavy looking up to them lol) mentors is relentlessly persuasive and also intentionally permissive
They challenge me to put my best foot forward and remind me
They challenge me to put my best foot forward and remind me
And I wanted to give my community what Beyoncé (& my Beys) gave me dancing in my living room eating a spring roll:
Confidence, joy, Compassion, Empathy, Entertainment, empowerment and most importantly PRIDE in my Blackness, my struggle/success, and my work
Confidence, joy, Compassion, Empathy, Entertainment, empowerment and most importantly PRIDE in my Blackness, my struggle/success, and my work
In my committee meeting I wasn’t at my best & it showed. So went back to the drawing board with Homecoming album on repeat
I changed how I approached my science & life tbh - I literally woke up one day and decided to be the Beyoncé of neuro
The flood gates opened & I became intentional with my time & stopped forcing myself to fit a mold that wasn’t made for me.
And it worked! lolol I used my work/experiences to tell the story of my data/life & inspire folks to be the best version of themselves.
& if I couldn’t be someone’s Bey I made it my mission find em their own Scientific Beyoncé
& if I couldn’t be someone’s Bey I made it my mission find em their own Scientific Beyoncé
My goal as a #BlackNeuroMentors is to make neuro a field filled with Beyoncé’s - to be the mentor I needed/wanted - but wasn’t able to ask for. To shine so that others can too.
So as a future #BlackNeuroMentors I’ll say: find your own Scientific Beyoncé & if you can’t become one!
It doesn’t have to be one person. It can be a team (RIP #DestinysChild) but find the folks that challenge you, make you excited about neuro, that inspire you to do&be better
It doesn’t have to be one person. It can be a team (RIP #DestinysChild) but find the folks that challenge you, make you excited about neuro, that inspire you to do&be better
The end 
