What made you choose Law School?

I think, in a way, I always wanted to study law, even before I knew what it was. My mum says that from the moment I started talking I wanted to do things involving laws; but I think it became more clear when I was 14, when my parents found themselves out of work and, at the time, not really knowing what to do and not having a university degree, they decided to open a bar, which had been a dream of my dad’s throughout his youth.

With all the licences and bureaucracy involved in opening a business, they found themselves a little lost, and I took it upon myself to become more involved. I found it fascinating, so I realised that I wanted to study law. In addition, I’ve always been interested in human rights and politics, and I used to get very angry about the injustices of the world. I still do.

What would you like to pursue in the field of law?

I think 14-year-old Isabel realised what she wanted straight away and university confirmed it: I really like bureaucracy! Administrative law has been my favourite subject so far and I’ve even done some research in this field, which is one of those things that nobody at all finds interesting [laughs].

There’s something really incredible and subliminal about it because it is the kind of thing that has an impact on people’s lives on a daily basis. It’s administrative law that regulates economies and services. Of course, there’s the whole human rights and constitutional law aspect, which are undoubtedly the basis of any society; but it’s through administrative law that we can effectively implement them.

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You’re from the village of Santa Bárbara de Nexe, in Faro. How did you adapt to Lisbon?

It was interesting. I’d never taken the metro before in my life. I used to take the bus to school and then back. If I wanted to go somewhere else, I had to ask my parents. Here, everything feels as if it’s connected and it’s very easy to get everywhere. It has really been a complete change, especially in terms of independence and realising how things can be. A small-town life means that opportunities all seem very limited and a little impossible. But then you get here and it’s like arriving in a land where dreams are possible, as cliché as that may sound. Suddenly there are opportunities and all those great things are within reach.

Especially because Lisbon is the centre of our democracy. To think that Parliament is just a metro ride away, to be able to visit it, is fascinating to me. In the first year of my degree I did an internship at the Portuguese Parliament and it really was the most eye-opening moment for me: “OK, these things aren’t that far away after all, it’s not just some fantasy we see on TV”.

You also do a lot of voluntary work and activities outside the academic sphere. What do you get out of these experiences?

Unfortunately, I don’t do as much voluntary work as before, it’s more occasional, although I’m very involved in associations. I’m a student representative on my faculty’s council and on the Social Action Council of the Nova University of Lisbon. Thinking that change is possible, that we have the power to change the way things are, is what drives me to get involved in these activities. It means taking that first step towards the world we idealise. Because that’s also very much how I see law and the issue of regulating society: we are working, not for the world we have, but for the world we want.

So first you make the laws and then you move forward by following them?

This is a major debate in the world of law, whether it’s society that creates law or law that creates society. I think we’re at the moment where Law has to shape society, yes.

So we really need people like you.

I think we need people who want to do things, who work hard. If you only do things out of self-interest, there are limits to the contribution you can make. You have to know that you’re doing it for the community and sometimes you have to overcome the barriers of individualism because that’s the only way to overcome exhaustion. I believe, above all, that nothing can be done without hope. If we have no hope that things can change for the better, we’ll never try to change them.

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Where did your sense of community come from?

I think it came mainly from my parents and even my grandparents. My grandmother was a very dedicated person, she taught Portuguese and English to children who couldn’t go to school, she gave lessons at home. My grandfather was also very passionate, and my parents are always ready to help out in whatever way they can in the village, at local festivals… whatever brings a little extra joy to people.
I grew up in that environment and this is the value they instilled in me the most – to bring a little more joy and love to our people. That’s what we’re here for, not to achieve any sort of status or position. Nothing is more rewarding than making ourselves and our people happy.

How important was the Gulbenkian Merit Scholarship for your career and for your life now?

It was absolutely essential for me to be sitting here right now. This scholarship was the only reason I was able to come to Lisbon, otherwise I don’t think I would have made it. The scholarship allowed me to fulfil my only dream so far, which was to study at university. It showed me that opportunities do exist and that dreams are achievable.

What’s it like to be part of the Gulbenkian Network?

I’ve been to the meetings of Gulbenkian scholarship holders and I think there’s always a great sense of community when you see all the people whose Gulbenkian scholarships enable them to take a different path in life. If there’s one way to change the world, it’s through education. Being part of Gulbenkian Connect is precisely about that, getting to know the people who are going to change the world over the next few years, even in a small scale.

I talk a lot about changing the world, but changing the world doesn’t necessarily mean winning Nobel prizes. It’s about being a person who does the right thing on a daily basis, someone who tries to do it for others, for the community. Changing the world is about the small daily actions that make it possible for all this to continue.

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Where do you see yourself in 10 years when you plan your future?

In 10 years’ time, when I’m 31… if I’m very lucky, I see myself with a master’s degree and a PhD, because that’s what I really want, to keep on studying. I’ve already had the opportunity to do research into European administrative law here at university and I loved it, so I see myself developing projects of the same kind. In terms of my career, it’s a bit more complicated because I don’t necessarily see myself becoming a lawyer or a judge. I’ll have to try more things in the meantime. But in 10 years’ time, as long as I’m happy and proud of myself, I think I’ll be fine. I hope to be contributing something to the community.

I’d say there are a lot of associations out there that need people to deal with bureaucracy…

That’s right. If I’m doing paperwork, I think I’ll be happy. [laughs] Surely there’s no smaller action, but it can be so important helping someone fill in a form…