My newest two Portuguese words are “desafio” which means “a challenge” and “orgulho/ orgulhoso” which means “pride/proud”. Within the PRECE community “desafio” is a word I hear frequently… “orgulho/ orgulhoso”, rarely.
If there is anyone who knows about challenge it is José Noberto Sousa Bezerra. Noberto was one of the first seven students who began studying with PRECE in 1994. In 1998 he entered the
Federal University of Ceará in Chemistry with a scholarship. In 2004 he started his masters and two years later in 2006 he began his doctorate. Throughout these years Noberto struggled with many trials and tribulations- simply achieving his degrees, research that proved to be unfruitful, raising a family while studying, more research, and on and on. But, throughout the entire process Noberto had his PRECE family supporting him.
On Thursday, February 24th Noberto defended his doctorate in front of a crowd in the UFC Chemistry Auditorium. That evening friends, family members, professors and other supporters joined at the PRECE institute in Benfica to celebrate with Noberto. Many spoke about Noberto’s courage and how he had encouraged them. Others spoke of Noberto’s determination and perseverance. And, then Noberto spoke…
As American’s we have a saying, “Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”. It was a phrase my father believed in and I heard consistently as I was growing up. It is also a phrase that I despise. I wonder, (like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others had said before) what the bootless child is
meant to do. How is the man born without boots meant to pull himself up by his nonexisting bootstraps? What a cruel saying America has built itself upon.
PRECE has found that by creating a net of support those born without boots and bootstraps are able to pull themselves up by climbing on the backs of one another and then reaching their hands out to pull others up. Through community they are able to reach higher than any one person can do individually. Noberto fully recognized this as he spoke to the group of supporters. He said over and over, “não só eu” which means “not only me”. He reminded everyone that this success, this doctorate, belongs not only to him but to the entire PRECE community. They stood by him and supported him throughout the process and they are part of his success.
Noberto recognized everyone else, but not once did I ever hear him use the words, “orgulho or “orgulhoso” saying that he was proud of himself or the work he had accomplished. Why? It simply isn’t part of the PRECE culture to dwell within one’s own pride. There is no room for pride when the “desafio” still exists and the success belongs not to one but to all. What a beautiful thing!
If there is anyone who knows about challenge it is José Noberto Sousa Bezerra. Noberto was one of the first seven students who began studying with PRECE in 1994. In 1998 he entered the
Federal University of Ceará in Chemistry with a scholarship. In 2004 he started his masters and two years later in 2006 he began his doctorate. Throughout these years Noberto struggled with many trials and tribulations- simply achieving his degrees, research that proved to be unfruitful, raising a family while studying, more research, and on and on. But, throughout the entire process Noberto had his PRECE family supporting him.On Thursday, February 24th Noberto defended his doctorate in front of a crowd in the UFC Chemistry Auditorium. That evening friends, family members, professors and other supporters joined at the PRECE institute in Benfica to celebrate with Noberto. Many spoke about Noberto’s courage and how he had encouraged them. Others spoke of Noberto’s determination and perseverance. And, then Noberto spoke…
As American’s we have a saying, “Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”. It was a phrase my father believed in and I heard consistently as I was growing up. It is also a phrase that I despise. I wonder, (like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others had said before) what the bootless child is
meant to do. How is the man born without boots meant to pull himself up by his nonexisting bootstraps? What a cruel saying America has built itself upon.PRECE has found that by creating a net of support those born without boots and bootstraps are able to pull themselves up by climbing on the backs of one another and then reaching their hands out to pull others up. Through community they are able to reach higher than any one person can do individually. Noberto fully recognized this as he spoke to the group of supporters. He said over and over, “não só eu” which means “not only me”. He reminded everyone that this success, this doctorate, belongs not only to him but to the entire PRECE community. They stood by him and supported him throughout the process and they are part of his success.
Noberto recognized everyone else, but not once did I ever hear him use the words, “orgulho or “orgulhoso” saying that he was proud of himself or the work he had accomplished. Why? It simply isn’t part of the PRECE culture to dwell within one’s own pride. There is no room for pride when the “desafio” still exists and the success belongs not to one but to all. What a beautiful thing! 
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