My career path has been winding, but my motivation has never wavered – it simply took time to fully form.
I grew up in a time of uncertainty. I was born in Lithuania while it was still part of the USSR, and my early years were shaped by the country’s transition to independence -figuring out what freedom meant in practice (I know I’m the second Lithuanian writing a case study like this and saying the same thing, but it really is a defining part of our identity). I come from a proudly nationalistic, working-class, and large family. While I was fortunate to grow up in a loving and supportive family, financial struggles were a reality, and social welfare support was often a necessity. Perhaps because of this, I was comfortable with a career path that was anything but predictable.
Psychology fascinated me long before my undergraduate studies, though I wasn’t sure where it would lead. Through my degree and Erasmus Mundus exchange, I found my passion: understanding person-environment fit, neurodiversity, and child mental health. I realized I wanted to improve environments for young people who experience the world differently, though it took me a few more years to see research as my path.
As a first-generation university graduate, I had no idea what being a scientist or earning a PhD actually entailed. In my mind, scientists were middle-aged men in white coats with beards. I loved maths but couldn’t see how it connected to my passion for child and adolescent mental health.
So, my work experience has been varied. Outside of academia it ranged from working in a call centre to supporting neurodivergent people and families. Eager to learn from different cultures and research contexts, I moved – a lot. So far, I’ve lived, studied, and worked in six countries. As an academic, I’ve run large-scale studies, conducted eye-tracking experiments, and taught research methods and statistics.
The constant uncertainty of academia can be stressful, especially as short-term contracts and job insecurity persist. And, like many in this field, I feel the weight of that more as time goes on. But despite these challenges, I love the flexibility my career offers. I get to wear many hats, including analysing data, writing, teaching, engaging in policy impact, and working with the media, all while pursuing questions and actions that I believe can improve lives and mental health of young neurodivergent people.