Today I want to share with you my journey from my student days to the present moment, in which I work with pride and great passion in the field of Collections Conservation.
It has been a path with ups and downs, full of learning and changes in direction, but one that has brought me to where I am today: a place of personal and professional fulfilment.
If you are thinking of following this path, perhaps my story can inspire you!
When it all began
I have always been fascinated by history and ancient civilisations.
But it was during a simple conversation with my Latin teacher, when I was in high school, that I realised where my true passion lay. When she asked me what I liked to do in my free time, I replied without hesitation: “Read about Ancient Egypt.”
At that moment, the path I wanted to follow became clear – Archaeology.
My parents supported me, even knowing that this would be a difficult field to find a job. They gave me an important piece of advice: I would have to stand out and be really good at what I did.
And with that in mind, I started my degree in Archaeology.
From dream to reality
Despite my initial motivation, I was confronted in the very first days with the harsh reality of the sector. During the first days in college, an older student told us: “Congratulations, you are taking the first step towards unemployment.”
Hearing that was like a real letdown. But it wasn’t enough to make me give up.
Throughout the course, I realised that if I wanted to fulfil my dream of doing excavations in Egypt, I would have to complement my education.
I took short courses, learned Arabic, and attended Egyptology classes. Until, at a conference, I met a Portuguese Egyptologist and took the opportunity to ask her how I too could take part in archaeological excavations in Egypt.
That’s when I discovered an unexpected reality: foreign archaeologists generally do not take part directly in excavations in Egypt… Only Egyptians are allowed. However, these excavations include other specialised professionals – such as Conservators – who care for and treat the objects found.
And that’s how a new path was born.
An unexpected turn that became a vocation
I decided to invest in an area that I had not previously explored in depth: Preventive Conservation.
I wanted to learn to take care of the artefacts found in excavations, and beyond, thus contributing to heritage preservation in a different way.
On the suggestion of a professor, I chose a master’s in Museology, which included training in Preventive Conservation and other complementary areas.
During the master’s, I always kept active. In the first semester, I volunteered at the Porto District Archive, where I gained practical experience in document conservation.
In the second semester, I went to London on an Erasmus exchange, where I did an internship at the prestigious Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A).
It was an absolutely transformative experience for me. I worked in the Science Conservation laboratory, a space equipped with cutting-edge technology. There, I took part in projects involving material analysis, environmental control, and risk assessment for the objects on display.
One of the most remarkable tasks was measuring the amount of natural light entering a gallery under renovation, in order to balance aesthetics and preservation – a complex experience, with many challenges along the way, but incredibly enriching both professionally and personally.
The return to Portugal and consolidation
Back in Portugal, I began a professional internship at the Ceramics Museum in Caldas da Rainha. I worked on inventorying and cleaning ceramic pieces, and continued investing in my training with courses in Accounting and Lighting Design.
What’s my secret for the transition from university to the job market? Internships, volunteering, and lots of curiosity!
I believe that trying different contexts and learning from professionals in various areas was crucial to building a solid foundation for my career.
Today: Conservator and Trainer
More than 15 years after finishing university, I have taken part in many projects, worked with incredible teams, and trained other professionals.
Currently, in addition to working in the field of Collections Conservation, I also develop and offer online courses through the project Conservation with a Click (Conservação num Clique, in Portuguese).
The dream of working in Egypt is no longer at the centre of my plans, but you never know what the future holds. What matters is that I am passionate about what I do. And as long as that’s the case, I know I’ll be on the right path – taking care of our heritage and the stories that objects have to tell.
