1ST SEMESTER 

The last post was a while ago, in December. This was because we had the winter break for the holidays, and  I used that time to get to know the United States better. I wanted to explore cities beyond Washington, D.C.,  so I spent time traveling, visiting different places, learning about history and culture, and, of course,  enjoying the food (a lot, too much).  

To top off the break, we were lucky enough to experience a huge snow, another new experiene. It  was amazing to see the Gallaudet campus covered in white, it was absolutely breathtaking. The  winter landscape was truly beautiful, and I took full advantage of the opportunity to enjoy it with  an almost empty campus.  

However, the holidays always came to an end, sure, and with that, a new semester begins. My  goals for this semester have changed a little and did some adjustements. During my first semester,  with so many new things, I wanted to be in everything, attending as many classes as possible (a  little bit of FOMO, if you know what I mean). As a result I enrolled in too many courses, and had to  drop a couple of them for keep the pace. While it was an enriching experience, I now need to focus  on other tasks and organize my time more effectively.  

For this semester, I decided to take only three courses from different fields, allowing me to develop  various skills while maintaining a better balance and enjoy more actively in the class work. My  main objective is to structure my activities more efficiently and concentrate on what matters most:  learning and practicing new academic skills.  

With the arrival of 2020, the United States also welcomed a new president, bringing significant  changes and challenges. This transition, as hard as it is, is an opportunity for me to understand  how people in the U.S. navigate and respond to such shifts and how this matchs with their  democratic values, how they interpret daily news, and how they react to legislative and policies  changes. This situation and its consequences directly affect our work as Deaf scholars, influencing  education and research policies, accessibility, and societal perceptions of the Deaf community and  of course both Political Science and Deaf Studies field itselfs. Without a doubt, this has been a  fascinating time to be in the U.S. and to witness these transformations firsthand.  

Beyond the sociopolitical environment, January has also been a crucial month for my academic  growth. I submitted my first article to a journal, and it is now undergoing peer review. I am hopeful  for a positive outcome, but for now, I must wait for the decision. Additionally, another  achievement has been the acceptance of my presentation at the Deaf Academics Conference  (DAC), where I will present my research findings on Deaf feminism in Spain. This international  conference will take place in Houston, Texas, from June 4 to June 8, 2025. These accomplishments  show that step by step, I am making progress, and most importantly, I feel more confident in my  own research. I think that these are important milestones in my academic journey and I can now  confidently say that my interdisciplinary work lies at the intersection of Political Science and Deaf  Studies. 

Over these past months, through participation in classes, lectures, and discussions on various  topics, I have gained an invaluable academic and personal experience. Among everything I have  learned, I would highlight the opportunity to engage in discussions and debates with students and  professors, which has allowed me to explore different perspectives and experiences. The reality is  that one person’s experience, shaped by their unique background and context, always has  limitations and can never fully represent an entire community. This is why it is essential to remain  open-minded, watch and listen diverse viewpoints, for develop a deeper understanding.  

I believe this has been the most valuable lesson of the semester. Thanks to the Deaf Studies  Incubator, I have been able to expand my skills, strengthen my knowledge, and gain a deeper  insight into what it truly means to be a Deaf academic. This experience has not only enriched my  academic growth but has also helped me solidify my identity within the scholarly community and  better understand both the challenges and opportunities we face as researchers in this field.