There are essential things are invisible to the eye, and those things can be professions. But there are also other jobs that are dedicated to make those realities visible, to give voice to the voiceless. That is what good journalism is all about.
The Uruguayan writer and journalist, Eduardo Galeano, said that “many small people, in small places, doing small things can change the world”. That is Víctor’s job.
Víctor is a Professor at the University of Oviedo who, since 2007, coordinates the collaboration agreement between CERN and the University of Oviedo for the Project Associate Program. It was the first agreement by a Spanish university with this European huge lab, an agreement which, in Víctor’s opinion and experience, has been of great mutual benefit over all these years.
Since its approval, more than 80 young graduates, mostly engineers, but also some physicist and mathematicians, have enjoyed the opportunity to embark on an international professional career at CERN, which according to Víctor is like a trampoline for them. He is the one in charge of giving them the initial push.
Not only do they gain new work knowledge, they also develop their emotional intelligence: how to deal with their colleagues and supervisors, with external and internal customers… Simply, how to deal with people different moods, and with the moods of one’s self. This last one, alone, makes it totally worthwhile.
Víctor, who sees the students struggling to find their professional way, always tries to help them. Why? He enjoys watching them growing, as human beings and as professionals. His job is rewarding for him, and very grateful for others (not only for the university graduates).
Víctor believes that institutions have no soul on their own. They are just legal bodies with multiple facilities and powerful resources. What moulds the soul of each and every institution is the people: those who cradle them daily. “So, it is in the CERNies hands to make CERN what they want it to be”, says an optimistic Víctor.
To him, the key word is together: to share goals and go towards them, hand in hand. “Unity makes strength”. He is aware that motivation sometimes weakens; the challenge is to be focused and motivated on that common goal. Keep track of it, because everyone’s contribution is valuable to achieve it.
Now, what is the secret of this Asturian metaCERNie to continue, year after year, looking after these applications processes? He lives happily and peacefully knowing that he provides his small grain of sand. Galeano believed in solidarity, which is horizontal, and that respects the other person. Víctor is a top scorer in solidarity.
Besides, the joy of receiving “thank you for the opportunity” messages from the former students. “Even when you are not thanked, you take it for granted”, because you know you are a small part of this big project, which is CERN. Even society is thankful for that small contribution, whether we know it or not.
Sometimes, those essential things, that may be someone’s job, can only be seen with the heart.