WOMEN OF THE WORLD
I was listening to Michelle Obama’s podcast recently, and if you have been reading this blog you have probably realized I am a big fan of hers. Michelle Obama’s words brought me back to the women in my life who I have considered to be my mentors, who never had the title of mentor despite they listening, guiding and supporting me, at important moments in my journey. After some reflection about their words and personalities, I realized that the common thing among them was that they were, what I consider, women of the world.
Certainly being a woman of the world is a title they have gained not just because they enjoy travelling for pleasure, but because they also travel for business or learning. For them, the act of travelling is more than relaxation and pretty pictures at lovely spots. In certain ways when they travel they allow themselves to be permeated by other cultures and reflect about themselves.
Also, they have built their own studios, bringing a new vision to their local ecosystems and with that, they have inspired other young women like me to take control of their careers, make the most of the world and find opportunities to give back a part of themselves to the communities around them.
When I met them, I saw a freedom in their gaze that I haven’t seen before in other women. I noticed that feeling of independence, which I only had felt a hint of, the first time I studied abroad. One of the mentors I am talking about was my first professor of lighting design at UPC in Barcelona, during my studies as a postgraduate student, and later my boss when I did an internship at her studio. Although she was not my first mentor, I met her at a time in my life when I had finally discovered my calling.
MY CALLING
No career or a specific path was imposed upon me, however my context unexpectedly managed to influence me. I had chosen to be an architect inspired by my father who since a young age had loved to do technical drawings and was really talented at it. I remember being delighted by hearing his stories about his tools, how much he took care of them and how he was dreaming about becoming an architect or engineer. Sadly though these dreams never came true because of the struggles he was facing at that moment.
After I graduated from architecture school, I took a job I had not been expecting. Up until that time, I had continued to let myself get carried away by the “good guidance” my family, professors and close friends offered me to make my major life decisions. However, when I chose lighting design as a career I had no clue about what I would be facing but I was still happy to take the risk. While researching the industry, I read an intriguing article that helped me to make that decision.
I felt inspired by how powerfully the perception of a building changes with light. I read how some people prevented several heritage buildings from being demolished in New York by lighting them up and doing an ephemeral intervention.
That article brought me memories of when I was an exchange student in Buenos Aires and I decided to follow the schedule which my origin University had given to me and not to be “distracted” by a lighting design course I wanted to take but I couldn’t apply to my major later.
At that time, I didn’t have the courage to follow my intuition and years later I realized that class had been given by a really talented lighting designer Eli Sirlin. When I found that out, I regretted getting carried away by what I believed were my daily obligations and not following my intuition.
THE JOURNEY
After so many signs, I decided to allow my intuition to lead my decisions, and I applied for a postgraduate spot at UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, where I got in and also met my mentor. During my time at UPC, I remember being captivated by my mentor’s way of understanding light, her passion about her projects, her continuous way to challenge us as students, and her studio which was always full of drawings, luminaires and materials for testing.
Looking back to those days, in my mind remains the image of her carry-on in a spot of her studio close to the door, and my mind wondering where her next destination would be. Her busy schedule and her ability to have everything on time. Her smile after classes when she used to put her helmet on and rode her bike back home. Her good sense of humor and how she found time to share a couple of beers with us after a tough project delivery during my internship. Moments in which she used to share some of her adventures as her car trip around the USA as a deserved closure after her Master studies. And how to forget, her thoughtful presents, some of my first lighting design books which nowadays I keep as my treasure.
I remember being struck by her full sense of self, and extreme confidence. She seemed to move so easily in the world, jumping between German and English with clients then discussing lighting concepts and technical details in Spanish, and finally explaining to us some key points of a lighting competition written in Catalán. I dreamed to be her.
PONDERING ON THE ROAD
Some years later, I met her again. We spoke for some minutes in the coffee shop of a lighting fair and then she invited me to have dinner. After that talk, I realized that she had intuited so much about myself during that short time back in Barcelona, things that took me years to see and many others to accept and internalize. Maybe it was because of her experience, but until now I am not sure of how she had the power to see through me.
Even today, her words and thoughts keep me reflecting about my path as a professional and as a woman. All those moments had blended together between her classes, the projects in her studio, my classmates and that lovely city which is Barcelona, the first place where I really learnt to see the power and the magic of the light in a conscious way. To see the world with new eyes.
Beyond classes I believe that my learning environment was the city by itself, uncovering its secret spots, places which transformed between day, night and seasons. A city which dressed with light during special celebrations and with shadow in those narrow streets in the old town. A city which has the capacity to constantly amuse travellers and citizens.
NIGHT-TIME TRAVELLER
After reflecting on my journey, I realize how important a sense of freedom through travel has been in my life, both as a professional and as a woman. I am still shy and I feel panic from public speaking, among other fears. But despite all those fears and my tendency to overthink, I have been cultivating a sense of possibility that allows me to dare to do things despite fear; and to know that even in the darkest moment I can still find light in myself.
I have been cultivating a sense of possibility that allows me to dare to do things despite fear. And to know that even in the darkest moment I can still find light in myself.
Going back to the time I spent in Barcelona, there was when I started travelling alone by choice, and also with classmates and friends just chasing the light. That was when I realized I was a Night-time Traveller. I spent my travels observing cities at night, guided by cosy warm lights or joyful colored lighting, finally, enjoying the night in another way. For me, discovering the cities at night has finally given me the freedom I had been looking for so long.
Night-time traveller
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