By: Laura Portillo
Laura Portillo, Coordinator of Life Sciences El Salvador, completes her Master’s Degree in Trade and Project Management for the Expansion of Latin American Markets.
I recently completed my Master’s Degree in Commerce and Business Management for Latin American Market Expansion projects at the Business School of Formato Educativo with the University of Cadiz in Madrid, Spain, an experience that has marked my life, and with which I can prove that when you have dreams and goals to strive for, you always find the means, resources and adequate support to achieve them; I can say that although the sacrifices to achieve it has been great, they have been worth it, because since my first career I had to work to pay for my studies, so the satisfaction of having completed a master’s degree that I dreamed of since I was a teenager is unmatched.
Since I applied to acquire a half scholarship through Foreign Affairs, it was interesting to see how my dream was becoming a reality since I was selected from a long list of candidates, and once on board, I was able to meet and talk with people from different countries in Latin America, with different professions, different stories and very particular points of view, both personally and professionally. As a student, I developed new skills, expanded my knowledge, and proved that I am capable and competent to deal with the topics I am passionate about and applicable to any organization.
One of the main challenges I faced in the development of my Master’s degree was knowing how to manage my time effectively in order to fulfill the activities I had to perform as a student; improve my communication skills, use new work tools, and always keep a good attitude.
I am of the opinion that every experience, even if it is difficult, is an opportunity to glorify God, I am very proud of what I have achieved and the way I faced the challenges that arose during this process, and I am willing to continue working for those who still live in my mind and heart. I conclude my success story, by confirming that, with effort, perseverance, willingness, a good attitude, and a lot of prayers, personal and professional dreams are achieved at the right time.