A day in the life of Angela Maria Gonella
At 12:30, my phone alarm goes off, reminding me that it's Wednesday! That means I must rush to Guiga's school. Every Wednesday, I volunteer to help his teacher, Ms. Dominello, with activity centers while she reinforces reading to each kid. Every Wednesday, when the alarm rings, I wonder what I was thinking when I decided to volunteer. But then, every time I see my son's face and his friends smiling when I arrive, I remember exactly why I did it.
I spend 45 minutes there—probably my favorite 45 minutes of the week. Afterward, I return to the lab to finish the PAGs analysis, read the plate, and send the report to the producer. I get a call from Mr. Chanley Carter. He and his wife, Mrs. Leticia, have a purebred operation in Jackson County. I've known him since my interview for this position in 2018. I still remember how I could hardly understand him during that interview—not only because I was nervous and dizzy, but because, as a Colombian, the Southern accent was a challenge! Mr. Chanley asked if I could check on his cows next week, so we set a date. It's 3 p.m., and I have only an hour to work on that grant.
I feel particularly inspired today, so I write a few pages. I call Nico for feedback, and he takes my call (a miracle since he's always busy). I asked for his opinion on what the best control group could be. He agrees with me. We also talk about statistics—Nico is much better at it than I am. I wanted to add some molecular analyses to the grant, but Nico said, "You're crazy; this grant is for an industry association. They'll never fund something like this." I tell him, "You know me, Nico. If I can't do my molecular stuff, then I don't want to do the experiment." We both laugh. He asks about my kids, and I ask about his daughter Luci. He asked me if Tatuyo is coming this weekend so we could have that big BBq at our place; I said yes and that he can plan everything directly with my husband; they are close friends, as I am close friends with his wife Liza, we are both Colombians (not Columbians).
At 4:12 p.m., my phone alarm rings again—time to go! I start packing up. My PhD student, Cami "Rainbow," pops into my office with a couple of questions, and so does my MSc. student, Jose. I respond, but honestly, I don't remember what I said. Mauro also stopped by to thank me for the recommendation letter I wrote for him for a travel fellowship. He's attending the International Livestock Congress next week. I tell him I'm happy for him, but he should've told me earlier. He showed me the message from months ago, and I can't believe it; I can't remember ever mentioning it, and we all joke about it.
It's now 4:15 p.m., and I've got to run to pick up my kids by 4:30. I say goodbye to Barry Tilman, NFREC Center Director and head of the Peanut Breeding Program. Barry is not only the person who takes care of the center; he also cares for all of us. When I left the building, I saw a group of students studying for the statistics exam at one of the picnic tables; another small group was studying for the molecular biology exam at another picnic table. I saw Mark Gomillion (the lab technician at the Peanut Lab) on his way to the conference room. On some days of the week, after finishing his work, he teaches English classes for our interns and for the families of some of our international students. In short, Mark is probably the person with the biggest heart in the center.
I make it to Dayspring at 4:28 p.m.—thank God for Marianna's small-town traffic! We head straight home, where Nina and Guiga open the door to let our cats, Pepinillo (Pickles) and Coco (Coconut), inside. Yes, our cats are also bilingual (LOL). I chat with our neighbors, Richard and Jackie, and their bulldog, Lola. The kids play with the cats and watch TV while I steal 30 minutes for myself. I call my mom, who tells me about the family farm—not doing well, especially with Colombia's current political and economic situation. I try to calm her and tell her everything will be okay, even when I'm not buying it. For a second, I think about my Grandfather and Grandmother, who started in the farming business. And, although I miss them tremendously, I thank God they are not here today to witness what's happening.
After that, I start cooking dinner and remind the kids to bathe and do their homework. Tomorrow's Thursday, and Nina has a science quiz, a math test, and a couple of pages to read. Guiga also has pages to read and spelling words for Friday.
After dinner, we video call my husband. The kids love playing with the funny filters on the phone. Before bed, we read a book. We've been reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets lately. I usually read it to them while they correct my pronunciation. They're demanding teachers who help me improve my accent every day. The word I still can't say right is "owl," and it pops up often in the Harry Potter books. By 9:15 pm, they're in bed, and I unwind with some TV—lately, Dr. House helps me relax. To fall asleep, I read a book. I've always been a fan of Jane Austen, and my husband and kids gave me her complete work for my birthday. So tonight, I fell asleep reading Emma, maybe for the fifth time.
This is how I finish my day. I close my eyes and thank God for filling my life with my beloved and fantastic family, great coworkers, and science that inspires me daily. I cannot tell you what I'll be doing tomorrow. Because I'm sure that tomorrow will be different than today. But I can tell that again tomorrow, I'll be working with the most impressive group of people that ever existed, and I have the privilege of calling my work family at NFR.
About the Author:
Dr. Angela Maria Gonella was born in Colombia, where agricultural production plays a significant role in the local economy. She graduated with her DVM from UDCA in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2007 and completed her Master’s in Animal Health at the National University of Colombia in 2011. She then moved to Brazil, where she earned her PhD in Reproductive Physiology in 2017. Dr. Gonella was a postdoctoral fellow from 2017 to 2019. In February 2019, she began her role as an assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center at the University of Florida in Marianna.
