Hianula Monteiro

HIANULU MONTEIRO

Iris Aguiar | Staff Writer iaguiar12@bristolcc.edu

Hianula Monteiro is a student and single mother. She has a fouryear-old daughter, Aviih, who is her pride and joy. Monteiro was recently accepted to the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, as a biology major with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology.

As Monteiro grew up, Monteiro always had a sense of style. Friends and family would have imagined her pursuing her interest in fashion and going into a profession that involved her sense of artistic passion. Soon after she had her daughter, she realized that she wanted to use her love of art to take a deeper look at nature, which sparked a deeper interest in studying nature through biology.

Her inspiration turned towards biotechnology because of its ever-growing role in medicinal research, where pharmaceutical and diagnostic products help to treat and prevent diseases. She remembers talking to a friend about this field, and the conversation taking a quick turn when her friend made a remark basically telling her, “You should just stick to art.” She took that on as a challenge to prove that mindset wrong, but she is also pursuing this degree because she really loves nature and doesn’t want to pay a lot of money to learn art skills she already has. She is graduating from Bristol this semester with her associate’s degree in Life Science/Biotechnology and Forensics DNA.

Monteiro aspires to be in a position where her work betters the health and well-being of people in the community. She also wants to have a secure job to have a “happy ever after” for her daughter, Aviih. Monteiro wants to be able to afford her dream house with a nice backyard for Aviih to play in.

When she first started back in Sept. 2019, her experience at Bristol was great. She really pushed herself to not only achieve her goals, but she learned a lot.

“As soon as I brought my daughter to school I would go to the library. While I wasn’t in class, I would utilize the library to do assignments and homework or even go over materials. This would happen Monday through Friday,” Monteiro stated.

Hianula Moneiro | Photo by Iris Aguiar

Through her education at Bristol, she has gained much confidence

and determination to strive for the kind of life she wishes for her family.

Monteiro faced some challenges at Bristol. “I had to face the fears of failure and fight off thoughts of not being smart enough to get a science degree. After that, I let my desire to learn take over and drive me,” she said.

The pandemic also presented other challenges, but time management was key to balancing also being a mother. She had to structure her study time around her child’s needs, as Aviih was kept home from school. It was a distracting and difficult time, but they got through it.

The pandemic really shifted things for her because she was a straight ‘A’ student. So, when classes began remotely, she saw her first ‘B.’ Even though it was a difficult time she was able to adjust and follow a routine to help her stay on track. She strived to work hard and continue her education even when the cards may not have been in her favor.

Not only did the pandemic affect her, it also affected Aviih. It was a huge change, especially for a four-year-old not being able to play outside with her family and friends. Having to be at home 24/7 and only have her mom to play with, who had her studies to juggle, was a stressor for both of them.

Aviih got Monteiro her through any stresses she faced and may face in the future. During the traumatic change in this world, her daughter’s patience kept her on track. “She is a very smart, loving and caring little girl,” Monteiro said. She also highlights that her daughter knows what DNA stands for, an impressive fact considering many adults don’t even know this.

Hianula Monteiro | Photo by Iris Aguiar

Keeping her eye on the goal of getting a degree and unlocking better opportunities was also a significant motivator for her.

Monteiro’s plan for the future is to continue her education. She was recently accepted into UMASS Dartmouth where she’ll study as a biology major with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology.