Jerylee, Bolivia
Researcher in forest policy
Swiss partner
Mother of two daughters, 6 and 1.5 years old
"I love to be at home, but I love to work as well. The combination of both is what makes me feel successful. As a result, I am about to increase my work percentage. When you work in science, if you work part time, it is difficult to have a good output – writing papers, finding funding, and teaching. The system is such that, if you do not publish papers, you fall behind. Nowhere does it say that you are part-time, so how can you be successful with your publications and by extension your career?
It is a compromise and a lot of work, but I manage with a lot of structure, and good organisation. We also have the advantage of both my partner and I having flexibility in our professional contexts. In our partnership, we have a good balance between our career aspirations. The family is very important to help us manage our situation, as are our friends and neighbours – they are our support network here, they understand our challenges, and can relate to our struggles.
I would sum it up as follows: it is a triangle between friends, family and work. If they are stable, it works out, and I can be effective. But the different angles pull on each other all the time, making it a constant balancing act."
Zurich, 2020
