Top tips

I’m excited to share that I’ve updated my webpage with new sections dedicated to guiding students at different stages of their academic careers! Whether you're in high school, pursuing a bachelor’s degree, working on a master’s, or navigating your PhD journey, these insights are meant to help you grow, stay focused, and reach your full potential.

Here are the top recommendations from each section:

For High School Students: "Your First Steps"

🔑 Top Tip: Start by exploring what interests you. Don’t worry about having all the answers right away—focus on the things that spark your curiosity. Ask what problems exist around you, who is affected, and why you care. These initial questions will help guide your path and lead you to the deeper questions that come later.

For Bachelor’s Students: "Shaping Your Purpose"

🔑 Top Tip: Focus on questions, not just answers. University is your chance to dive into deep, meaningful questions. The clearer your purpose, the more fulfilling and impactful your work will be.

For Master’s Students: "Bridging Ideas and Action"

🔑 Top Tip: Learn how to listen—to problems, not just people. Master’s students should focus on solving real-world problems. Before jumping into solutions, fully understand the issues and the people they affect.

For PhD Students: "The Long Road, With Purpose"

🔑 Top Tip: Choose your topic wisely. Your PhD will be a long journey, so select a research topic that not only challenges you but also resonates with your values and long-term goals.

I hope these insights help guide you along your path and inspire you to think critically, act with purpose, and keep pushing forward. 💪

Feel free to explore each section on my webpage, and let’s continue building a culture of growth and collaboration! 🌱

For High-schools

🌟 Start Early: A Guide for High School Students Planning Their Future Career

High school is a powerful time to start shaping your future — not just with grades, but with ideas, experiences, and small steps that lead to big dreams. You don’t need to have everything figured out yet, but starting with purpose and curiosity can take you far. Here are some recommendations to help you begin your career journey with confidence and clarity.

1. 🧭 Make a Life Plan (But Keep it Flexible)

Start thinking about what kind of life you want. Ask yourself:

What do I enjoy doing?
What kind of people do I admire?
Where do I want to live, and how do I want to feel in my future job?

Your answers may change, and that’s okay. A life plan is not a fixed map — it’s a compass. Use it to guide your choices, even if the direction changes along the way.

2. 🎯 Set Small, SMART Goals

Try using the SMART method:

Specific (What exactly do I want to do?)
Measurable (How will I track my progress?)
Achievable (Is it realistic for now?)
Relevant (Does this connect to my dream?)
Time-based (When do I want to finish this step?)

Example: “I will finish a basic online English course in 2 months and practice speaking once a week.”

3. 🔧 Build Tools for Your Future

Some tools to start using now:

Create a CV – Keep it simple and update it every time you learn something new or help in a project.
Open a LinkedIn Profile – Start building your online presence. Follow people or organizations you admire.
Try Free Online Courses – On platforms like Coursera, EdX, or even YouTube.
Make a Portfolio – Collect your projects, drawings, writing, or anything that shows your passion.
Learn How to Write Emails – Good communication is essential everywhere.

4. 🤝 Find Opportunities Around You

You don’t need to travel far to start:

Help in a local event.
Volunteer at school or in your community.
Assist a teacher or mentor with a small task.
Join contests or submit creative ideas.
Teach something you know well to younger students.

These activities build experience, responsibility, and confidence — and sometimes even lead to paid opportunities or scholarships.

5. 🌍 Build a Network

Join international exchange programs or clubs.
Visit local international centers or cultural events.
Talk to people who have studied abroad or worked in different careers.
Ask someone you admire to mentor or guide you.

6. 🧠 Reflect Often

Every few months, ask yourself:

What did I enjoy recently?
What was difficult, and how did I face it?
Did I learn something new about myself?

This reflection helps you grow with intention and avoid comparing your path with others.

Final Message 💬

You don’t need to wait until college or graduation to start building your future. Start where you are, with what you have. Every effort matters. Every small project counts. The future belongs to those who prepare — and you’re already on your way.

Let’s walk forward together.

How to start?

🌱 For High School Students: "Your First Steps"

When I was your age, I had many questions—but no one I could really trust to ask. I didn’t know where to start, or if I was making the right choices. Today, as a researcher working with universities in Japan and Peru, and designing projects with scientists and governments, I want to share something important:

1. Ask "Why?" and "For whom?" early on.
Learning is not just about passing exams. It’s about solving real problems and helping others. Start by asking: What problems do I care about? Who do I want to help?

2. Read beyond your schoolbooks.
The world is bigger than your classroom. Read articles, watch videos about real research, and be curious. Learn about other countries, cultures, and challenges.

3. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission.
Opportunities won’t knock on your door—you have to go out and find them. Try new things, join events, talk to people, and most of all, believe that your ideas matter.

4. Find mentors who care.
Look for people who inspire you—not only because of their success, but because they listen, support, and push you to grow. If you can’t find one nearby, look online. I didn’t have one when I was young—but now I try to be that person for others.

5. Be patient, but persistent.
The best things take time. International projects, deep learning, big goals—none of it is immediate. But each small step builds your future. So keep going.

You have more potential than you realize. And someone, somewhere, is waiting for what only you can bring to the world.

For University Students (Bachelor)

How to start?

University life is more than just classes and grades—it’s the beginning of how you define your role in society. Based on my own journey through Peru and Japan, and my work in development, economics, and education, here are a few reflections I wish I had received earlier:

1. Focus on questions, not only answers.
What is the problem you're trying to solve? Who is affected by it? Great research and great careers begin with deep, meaningful questions. Start building your list.

2. Build your academic character.
Read serious papers. Challenge yourself to understand them. Respect deadlines. Learn to organize your thoughts with discipline and care. This is how trust is built in the academic world.

3. Work with purpose, not just ambition.
It’s not about how many titles or awards you can collect. It’s about why you're doing what you're doing, and who will benefit from it. The world needs minds with heart.

4. Collaborate across borders.
Start learning how to work with people from other cultures, disciplines, and generations. These collaborations will teach you what books cannot.

5. Be ready for the long run.
If you want to do work that matters, understand this: high-impact projects take time. They require trust, patience, and relationships—especially with governments, organizations, and communities.

6. Lead by example.
Don’t wait until you’re "someone important" to make a difference. Your actions now—your discipline, your ideas, your kindness—are already shaping your legacy.

Keep walking. Your story can become a guide for others.

For University Students (Master)

The Master’s degree is not just an academic phase—it’s the bridge between ideas and real-world action. You’ve chosen to go deeper. Now is the time to sharpen your tools, define your focus, and challenge yourself to grow not only as a student, but as a future leader in your field.

1. Learn how to listen—to problems, not just people.
Before offering solutions, understand the complexity. Learn to hear what the data says, what the communities feel, and what researchers before you have tried.

2. Stay grounded in the literature, but reach beyond it.
Great research starts with solid theory—but don’t let your work end there. Ask yourself: How can this knowledge be used? Who will benefit?

3. Choose your topic with care.
Find a problem that matters—not just academically, but personally. If it doesn’t move you, you won’t have the energy to carry it through. Purpose sustains focus.

4. Seek opportunities to collaborate internationally.
Part of your growth is learning to work with others from different contexts. It’s not just about language—it’s about humility, perspective, and building global trust.

5. Remember: this is preparation, not a finish line.
Your Master's degree is not the end. It’s the sharpening of your tools. How you use them after will define your true impact.

For University Students (PhD)

The PhD is not just about producing a thesis. It’s a commitment to a lifetime of inquiry, to working at the edge of what is known, and to contributing something new—something that lasts.

1. Your topic is your long-term partner. Choose wisely.
You’ll spend years with it. It should challenge you, but also speak to your values and long-term goals. Let it reflect both who you are, and who you want to become.

2. Methodology is not a toolbox—it’s a language of truth.
RCT, mixed methods… learn them deeply, and use them with care. The power of your research lies not only in what you study, but how rigorously and honestly you study it.

3. Balance theory with action.
Your research should not stay in the ivory tower. Whether you work with communities, governments, or companies, remember that the impact of your ideas depends on your ability to communicate and collaborate.

4. Protect your time, protect your mind.
You will face uncertainty, delays, self-doubt, and external pressure. Don’t isolate yourself. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and give yourself permission to rest and re-energize.

5. Make room for faith—both academic and personal.
Academic progress can be slow. Institutional change even slower. But if your cause is just, and your methods sound, your work will matter—maybe even more than you ever expected.

As PhD students, we are not only building knowledge. We are building examples for others to follow.

Keep going. Keep questioning. Keep creating.