Sofia the Great
Writer: Ilana S. / Editor: Natalie C. and Savannah T. / Photographer: Bella D. / Photos editor: Olivia E. / Graphic Designer: Savannah T.
Sofia S., Panhellenic superstar, is one of those people that can just do it all. She is involved all over campus, a big face in the community, and a great embodiment of what a Florida State Seminole and a Panhellenic woman should be. Sofia fights for what she believes in, she is proud of who she is and what she does, and she is a catalyst for change. All of this makes Sofia who she is, but one big event made her more determined than ever to advocate for herself and make the most of what life, and college, had to offer.
Back in 2018, Sofia started school at Florida State for Summer C. Early on, she was diagnosed with a severe case of Mono and had to drop back to part-time classes. Through her fight with Mono, she was severely set back and ordered to nine months of bedrest. In this time, she had memory loss due to medications she was taking, her tonsils fused together, and she was even unable to speak, drink, or eat properly. Sofia said through that time she relied on FSU to give her resources that supported her through her times of hardship.
Sofia said “Florida State is so special to me. It gave me an opportunity for a new life, and gave me the support I needed while I was sick, and every day after.”
Luckily, Sofia is resilient and was able to make a full recovery and return to school as a full-time student in the Spring of 2019. This was when she was fortunate enough to go through the Continuous Open Bidding (COB) process and picked up a bid from her chapter. “My first time in the house was for a Taco Tuesday night. When the sisters found out why I grabbed a simple one, they insisted on getting me a fancy one minus the cheese. The chef made special meals for everyone, whatever dietary restrictions they had.” said Sofia. She explained that the close knit community Alpha Gam provided from the get-go was what drew her in. “I felt supported, valued, and heard from the first time in the door.” Sofia said.
After joining her chapter, she hit the ground running into the Panhellenic, FSU, and local communities. To date she has held nine positions within the FSU and local communities, three Panhellenic positions outside her chapter, and two positions within her chapter. Put simply, Sofia is a perfect example of what an ideal Panhellenic community member is.
With self-noted resilience on her side, Sofia is a groundbreaking member of the Panhellenic community who says she is most inspired by past Panhellenic president, Jessica Barloga. Sofia talked about her experience meeting Jessica, “We met on the downstairs couch of Alpha Gam watching Game of Thrones. Her schedule was very busy, as she was graduating in just a few weeks. She inspired me, as I have that same passion and drive, wanting to give back to the communities I am in and helped set me on my feet and get involved on campus.”
In addition to joining Panhellenic to find a support system and staying for the support and empowerment, Sofia was encouraged by the Panhellenic community to get involved in the campus and local community. “I have always been passionate about giving back to those around me. I want to give back to the students and the University that have helped and supported me since the beginning.” said Sofia.
Student Government Association is something else Sofia is equally as passionate about as Panhellenic. When asked why she loves being part of SGA, she stated “I have been able to make tangible and impactful change on the campus throughout it. I have added 7 new buildings to the safe connection route making transportation more accessible, implementing an angel drink in the local bars to help get students to safety if something is wrong, and creating a PR position for a student to build their portfolio along with making SGA more transparent. I can actually give back to students and work to make their lives, and the University better every day.”
After college, Sofia plans to work in the consulting field within the international management realm and plans to move abroad. She accredits connections through all of her involvements at FSU for allowing her to feel as if she’ll be supported for a lifetime and be able to benefit from her involvements in the long term. “I have found deep friendships, connections, and a family throughout the community. There are women I will stay in contact with for years post graduation.”
Florida State University is a special place and in the words of Sofia, “Florida State is an empowering, open environment where we are taught from day one to support one another. Being part of Florida State means more than just our four years, rather being part of the community for life.” Her involvements within the University, Panhellenic, and the surrounding community showcase immense amounts of goodness that radiate from her. Her love and passion for giving back and helping others make her a star member and role model for the Panhellenic community and one that many chapter women, and those aspiring to be one, look up to.