¿Qué es la Thiel Fellowship?

What motivated Pamela Valdez to drop out of college?

Pamela Valdez, founder of a successful reading company, made an unconventional decision in her life by choosing not to follow the traditional college path. Surprisingly, Pamela received a monthly check from PayPal founder Peter Thiel to skip college. But what led an outstanding student, on scholarship at a prestigious Mexican university, to make this radical decision?

Pamela faced a crossroads called "soccer's choice," a concept that defines situations where someone feels they have only two options. In her case, she felt she had to choose between following her dream of entrepreneurship or continuing in college. However, her father's advice to "try it for six months" changed her perspective, leading her to understand that it was not an absolute choice between two paths.

Why is considering entrepreneurship not an absolute choice?

Pamela's father's advice became relevant: trying out for a while would offer a unique experience and opportunity that college would always be available in the future. Entrepreneurship, then, does not imply an irrevocable loss of academic or career options.

• Trial mentality: It is possible to try and then evaluate whether to continue.
• University always accessible: The doors to education remain open.
• Unique opportunities: Offers to undertake and certain experiences may not be repeated.

The focus on trying and evaluating implies that not everything succumbs to the "all or nothing" approach. Often, a less rigid perspective can lead to significant discoveries.

What role do fear and family support play in entrepreneurial decisions?

Throughout various interviews with founders, two crucial elements stand out: facing fear and having unconditional family support. Pamela stresses the importance of not allowing fear to rule decisions.

• Be ashamed of fear: Many fear the worst-case scenario: failure.
• Emotional family support: Parents who provide space and mental safety without judgment encourage personal exploration.

In this sense, having parents who support exploration without fear of failure is invaluable and often decides the course of entrepreneurial decisions. Trying paths outside of tradition without fear of failure is an option for personal and professional growth.

Continuing to explore and educate yourself in diverse areas can offer you new perspectives, motivations and opportunities, such as those Platzi could provide with its focus on hands-on, practical teaching.