Luis Carlos Escobar Arenas
Medellín, Colombia
"Like a grain of sand, everything falls right into place!"
I am a Colombian, first-gen, LGBTQIA+ graduate student at UT Austin. I study sediments (gravel, sand, mud) to understand how the world used to be and predict what it will look like.
I grew up in a mountainous region in Colombia, and contemplating the landscape made me wonder “What makes one hill different from another?” That sparked my interest in environment-related sciences. Later, in the introductory course of geosciences, I visited the intriguing mountains I had been observing for so long, and amid a wealth of “hard rocks” I realized that a little part of them is made up of ancient sediments. They seemed extraordinarily enigmatic to me, and I decided to grasp their significance.
Every path that I have taken has led me to acknowledge the relevance of understanding sedimentary systems from the microscopic to the seismic scale.
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English version
(Translated on-the-flight from Spanish!)
My Pathway
Have you ever wondered what happens to a grain of sand after leaving the mountain? Today, let me tell you through my life!
Like a grain of sand, my story begins in the mountains. I grew up in a city surrounded by mountains, coffee, and a strong attachment to the land. Sometimes, I felt like I didn't belong there and like a grain of sand after leaving the mountain, I moved to a place located on an alluvial fan. Afterward, I returned to my hometown to study geology. Like a grain of sand, I faced a long and winding road, full of meanders and turbulence, navigating the waters of pursuing an undergraduate degree as a first-generation, LGBT student. Then, I found more grains of sand on the beach when I moved for work. But each grain of sand is unique, and I was frustrated because I didn't see anyone like me around.
The rivers go to the sea and the grains of sand with them. I decided to pursue a master's degree in Colorado and discovered that sediments can accumulate in deltas and go even further through underwater canyons. It has been a long and challenging pathway, being away from my family and constantly feeling alone. But, I traveled to the end of the world, Patagonia, to see the rocks that record underwater channels, and wanting to understand more about this new and enigmatic world, I came to Texas to pursue a PhD on the same topic.
At this moment, I research sediments that accumulated deep in the sea, after a long journey from the mountains. And there are still many things waiting for me to discover. I hope my path leads me to find a job at a research institute. Eventually, I want to become a college professor to help other international, Latino, first-generation, and LGBT students navigate the complicated but fulfilling world of academia. I hope that, like a grain of sand, everything falls right into place!
The surprising thing is...
It is awesome how you can see your life reflected through depositional environments and the sedimentary record (at least mine)!
Lessons
The main lessons I have learned through my pathway are:
"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations"
Hold on to your values and yourself, sometimes they are the only things you will have with you.
Cada vez que dudes y que no sabes, prueba escucharle. ¡Tu corazón sí que sabe! Always listen to your heart, no matter how painful that can be.
