Wildlife Vocalizations: Ana Yoko Meiga

Throughout my journey in biological sciences in Brazil, I have been fortunate to have many incredible mentors who have guided me with their time, patience and belief in my potential— sometimes they believed in me even more than I believed in myself. One piece of advice from a mentor has significantly helped to shape my actions and career trajectory.

After completing my undergraduate studies in biology, I was eager to pursue a master’s program focusing on mammal ecology. However, I faced a series of rejections from every program I applied to, leaving me disheartened. During this challenging period, I volunteered with a researcher studying jaguars (Panthera onca) using camera traps in Carlos Botelho State Park in the state of São Paulo in my hometown in Brazil. One afternoon, as we returned from the field, I told one of my mentors about my frustrations and disappointments.

She listened and then said: “It’s normal to be upset when you don’t achieve something important, but there’s a timeline for being upset. Be careful not to let yourself go beyond that limit.”

This advice motivated me to persist. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I chose to intensify my dedication, sharpen my focus, and study more for the next round of applications. And it paid off.

This experience taught me the value of persistence. As a Brazilian biologist facing challenges in pursuing a scientific career, I have learned to embrace “good fear” and “good anxiety”—the kind that doesn’t paralyze but pushes you forward, driving you to achieve your goals.

I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Florida and have had many opportunities to grow in my career. Learning the importance of persistence, even when not confident, has been the key to my success. The support and guidance from mentors, coupled with a persistent spirit, have been instrumental in my journey. The advice from my mentor to manage disappointment and persist has been invaluable.

Wildlife Vocalizations is a collection of short personal perspectives from people in the field of wildlife sciences. 

Learn more about Wildlife Vocalizations, and read other contributions.

Submit your story for Wildlife Vocalizations or nominate your peers and colleagues to encourage them to share their story. For questions, please contact tws@wildlife.org.