It’s @BlackInNeuro’s #BlackNeuroMentors dayI love talking about mentorship so here’s thread 1/2:

Aon 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

The end