Martta Liukkonen
BIO
Masters student in ecology and evolutionary biology and a single mom.
Instagram: @marannli
Martta Liukkonen
“I’ve learned to ignore the comments saying how a single mother cannot be a proper scientist.”
I began my scimom journey before my daughter turned one and that’s when I decided to pursue a career in natural sciences with a 5-year journey towards a Masters in ecology and evolutionary biology. During the first year of my studies, I became a single mother and had to learn how to balance motherhood, studies and part-time work. At first, I felt isolated from other students as it was hard for me to be active in the student community.
Even in Finland, which is known for its support for moms, I felt like single mothers are stigmatised as burdens within the community.
Missing classes because of my obligations as a mom would often lead to ‘extra’ assignments or a ‘lower’ final grade. During university holidays, I had no choice but to work to finance my living, so there was (and still isn't) no time for proper rest and time off.
My own family, my parents and sisters, live in different cities a few hours drive away, so I don’t have a support network close by. A few times a year, they help me with my daughter by taking her for holidays. This has been so helpful as I get to slow down a little and she gets a holiday.
The down side of being a single mom and a student is that I use all my holidays to work, which means my daughter doesn’t really get to enjoy long summer or winter holidays. This is one of the hardest parts for me, and usually the reason why I am also hard on myself.
During those moments of major sleep deprivation and a course load that scares people, I judge myself for choosing this path in science, and think maybe it was not the best option for my daughter. But luckily, those moments are few and I do know that science is the right path for me, as it gives me so much joy even with all the struggle. And well, a happy mother is always a better mother.
This journey has been exhausting at times, but also very rewarding. I have learned to survive anything, and I discovered my passion in life. I have found like-minded people, who are supportive and inspire me every day. I have learned to ignore the comments saying how a single mother cannot be a proper scientist. Sometimes, I think about what my life was like, if instead of going back to university, I had "only" gone back to work. It might have made life easier and more financially secure, but it could be that I was not as passionate about my career.
Currently, I am writing my Master’s thesis and I am finally only months away from getting my master's degree. The thesis process has helped me to ensure that I am in the right field, and I have started to consider continuing to a PhD.