Saulo Fernando - English Services

ABOUT THE ACADEMIC CONGRESS 2026

I remember that a few months ago, I shared a photo of the day I gave my first presentation in LIBRAS at UNIFESP. I was happy then. Never in a million years would I have imagined how far that could go, though.

I remember saying that those were my first steps, that I was venturing into a new language, a new world.

Today, I stood in front of an audience in a classroom once again, just like I’ve done a billion times before. Still, this was a first time.

My first time speaking at an Academic Congress, the biggest event at the Federal University of São Paulo. Presenting a bold initiative that mixes Portuguese, LIBRAS, English, and ASL, sharing the stage with PhD students, even though I’m still a baby in the academic world. Nothing could have prepared me for that! 😅

I was breaking out in a cold sweat the whole time, but I had some of my closest friends by my side — and a whole family who believed in me and supported me from afar — as well as the best LIBRAS interpreters and the most inspiring teacher in the world, all there to back me up.

Today was a historic milestone, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. Studying hard really does pay off! And my Lattes CV is looking a little brighter now. 😅

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who spent this awesome afternoon with me and who helped me get here. I promise I’ll keep flying higher and higher every day. 🚀

Special thanks to: Lucia Silva & Edair Silva (who’ve always dreamt of the day they’d see me lecturing in a public university), Carlos Colombo (who heard me practice all night until 3am before I got here), Elias Paulino Da Cunha Junior (who saw potential in me even when I was just a beginner), Flávia Galheigo & Priscila Fernandes (for your support and for being an inspiration and example), the Latin team - 𓋹 Ana Lu de Letras Nanda Santana - and my beautiful friends J U 🪴 Camila Maria Fernanda Angeleli Samuel (for coming to see me) and ℒ𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶 ℱℯ𝓇𝓃𝒶𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓈 (for the chocolate!) - I love you all! ❤️