Sparking the flame within: from the slums to the academic world

In this chapter, the author uses a reflective autoethnographic approach to talk about his doctoral journey as a student who comes from a marginalized community in Bogotá, Colombia. He describes past and present connections with communities that supported his graduate life during and after his studies—how he got into education, his struggles navigating the public education systems, and the challenges he faced with family and colleagues. He emigrated to North America in peril, when his country was in conflict. He discusses the skills he gained, his achievements, and the reasons he felt compelled to work in social justice in language education while pursuing his doctoral degree and beyond. He sheds light on mentoring and collaborations with peers and communities in and out of the academic world and hopes that future doctoral students may feel inspired to find the strength, resilience, and support necessary to pursue such a sometimes-uncertain academic path.