A week in the life of an 18-year-old student and activist in Brazil
Thainá Theodoro takes us through her busy week as she balances applying to colleges and running her nonprofit, Sem Medo. (Courtesy of Thainá Theodoro)
Thainá Theodoro takes us through her busy week as she balances applying to colleges and running her nonprofit, Sem Medo.
Monday
I recently developed this habit where the first thing I do in the morning is clean my room, get water and get dressed.
My Mondays always start with a team meeting at 10 a.m. I work as a community analyst for a girls’ empowerment organisation called Força Meninas. At Força Meninas, I develop initiatives — like prizes and courses — and also run an online platform for more than 800 girls. During today’s meeting, I was anxious because the annual prize competition I run has begun and getting girls to know about it and be interested is always challenging. It is called “Change The World Like a Girl,” and through it, we recognize girls making any kind of social impact.
“I work as a community analyst for a girls’ empowerment organisation called Força Meninas. At Força Meninas, I develop initiatives — like prizes and courses — and also run an online platform for more than 800 girls.”
At 2 p.m., I went to a doctor’s appointment. After I finished working so I could study. I have a college entrance exam in approximately two weeks, so that is my focus right now along with my applications to schools like Johns Hopkins University and King’s College London!
This week for work we were set to do a bunch of in-person activities, like visiting my high school to get students to sign up for the prize and attending the annual women in STEM congress, I Congresso Internacional de Mulheres em STEAM, held in my city, São José dos Campos.
Tuesday
As soon as I woke up at 9 a.m., I visited my high school. I sometimes forget how before the pandemic, I used to be in the building from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Since Brazil’s COVID-19 situation was — and still is — especially bad, I have spent more than half of my three years doing school via Zoom.
After a quick lunch, I had a call with Grinnell College’s women’s, gender, and sexuality department. It was exciting. We discussed what the major involves and how it always encourages creativity. Seeing myself as a possible undergraduate brings me joy.
Then I had a call with my boss to prepare for the annual women in STEM congress happening in my town on the weekend. It is a conference encouraging young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and maths. We wrote some important names who we could connect with about partnerships and about how we would like to connect with the speakers there!
“As soon as I woke up at 9 a.m., I visited my high school. I sometimes forget how before the pandemic, I used to be in the building from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.,” Thainá recalls. (Courtesy of Thainá Theodoro)
Today went quickly as I had a small chat with a friend. I decided I could rest and listen to Taylor Swift in preparation for the release of “Midnights,” her latest album.
Girls who are advocates tend to overwork themselves. Since we face many wrongs and closed doors every day, we can sometimes take the world’s suffering as ours. So when I can, I take care of myself before trying to care of everybody else’s problems.
Wednesday
Today started extra early from 8 a.m. because I had therapy. Recently, I began seeing a new psychologist and it is a journey. But it has also been nice.
Later, I did a tarot reading with a friend and then worked at Força Meninas. At around 5 p.m., I started drafting college essays and studying chemistry.
Afterward, I developed a headache while I was on a call with a friend to update each other on our lives. I have had chronic migraines, a form of chronic illness, since I was a small child. Most people do not believe me when I say it is bad. But I have pain — especially on weeks when I have a full schedule and get stressed.
“Girls who are advocates tend to overwork themselves. Since we face many wrongs and closed doors every day, we can sometimes take the world’s suffering as ours. So when I can, I take care of myself before trying to care of everybody else’s problems.”
At around 7 p.m. I put that aside and presented a pitch at a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) event about my nonprofit, Sem Medo! Sem Medo is an online platform that offers free sex education to young people. It was an exciting event. Afterwards, my mom bought me a donut, which had superpowers and stopped my pain.
By midnight, I studied and finished a simulation college entrance exam. I then played “The Sims” for a bit!
Thursday
At 9 a.m., I had a call with a college admissions officer! I always feel anxious in these settings, but I did fine on this call. I worked a bit in the evening and then spent the rest of the night studying for college entrance exams, while also attending a college session featuring a bunch of cool universities, like Yale University! The session was about financial aid and discovering your possibilities as an international student. My main takeaway was how important finding your “fit” is. It was definitely something I learned having taken a gap year; self-knowledge manifests in every area of life!
Friday
What a day! I woke up early at 7 a.m. and got my mini backpack ready. Recently I learned that being prepared is the best. So, I am addicted to taking an aid package (which I made for myself with bandaids), medicine for any kind of headache, a soothing ginger candy and more!
I went to a women in STEM congress. Unfortunately, some people told me the wrong location. I was embarrassed because the people I spoke to at the wrong location had no idea what I was talking about. Thankfully, I found the right place on time!
Thainá at the women in STEM congress. (Courtesy of Thainá Theodoro)
The event had a lot of teachers, entrepreneurs and CEOs for attendees to meet. The first panel was an introduction, where successful entrepreneurs like the Brazilian billionaire Luiza Helena Trajano answered questions on topics like the importance of diversity and obstacles women face. I got to meet a lot of inspiring women like Professor Maria Fasli, Executive Dean of University of Essex, and Gianna Sagazio, the Director of Innovation of the National Confederation of Industry Brazil. It was also a day of going beyond my introverted limits because I got a bunch of phone numbers and emails!
After the event, I went to a library because my high school teacher, Natasha, released a book, “Filósofas”!! I am so excited for her. After the book signing, my friend Camila and I had dinner with two other friends! It was one of the best days of the month.
Saturday
After some long days, I let myself relax on Saturday. This was something I started doing this week! I know I cannot take the whole weekend for myself, but even one day with nothing makes a difference.
I slept, read a little and watched “Gilmore Girls” for the 100th time while playing “The Sims.”
Sunday
I woke up super early for a one-day trip to São Paulo!
Thainá with her friend, Nina. (Courtesy of Thainá Thodoro)
Every two weeks, I like to take a 1.5 hour bus ride to São Paulo to see my best friends since they all live there. Today, I went to see Nina! We met in 2020 while volunteering at a small opportunity platform run by students in Brazil. She completely changed my life for the better with her friendship.
We walked for 30 minutes to get to a park, where we walked a bunch more while looking at the pretty trees.
After all this exercise, we got my favorite Margherita pizza and I went to the bus station. As soon as I arrived home, I slept because of how tired I got. It was definitely worth it!
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