Senior Sonja Cameron found herself in a completely different environment last year. The people, language, and art that surrounded her were unfamiliar but fantastic.
During her week-long trip to Spain spent with her classmates, Sonja’s love of the Spanish language was brought to a new level. It also heavily benefited her. With real-life interaction, she learned just how far she’d come. She was actively using skills that a couple of years ago, she wouldn’t have known how to.
“I was put in situations where I could only use Spanish, which was really good,” Sonja said. “And I felt like my Spanish improved, because when you’re in those situations, there’s no other way to communicate.”
As of now, she’s a student in Spanish 4. As the years pass, she has grown to appreciate the subject more than any other. It was something that came more easily to her than other things she was learning, giving her the opportunity to learn for herself how to improve, while also branching out to a new culture. After being recognized for her dedication in the class, she had found a way to continue pursuing what she loved while helping others find their passion for it, too.
“I just love helping people,” Sonja said. “And the best subject I teach is Spanish. Especially when my old teacher, Señora Stacey, recommended a [student] to me. I was [proud] that she saw that I have the potential to teach somebody.”
Tutoring is not only a great opportunity to expand her love of Spanish, but it also helps her build relationships with others she otherwise wouldn’t discover. It creates a friendly community in itself, adding to her interest. It is one of the many activities that encompass her enjoyment of being around others.
“I build nice relationships with the people [I work with],” Sonja said, “because I’m helping them with their grade and guiding them through their struggles in the class.”
Tutoring, though, is just one of the plethora of activities that Sonja takes pride in. Tennis is what she feels encapsulates her the most, being that it’s the combination of all of her favorite things. It’s freeing to display herself fully, and tennis is where that place is for her.
“Tennis [represents me the most since] I’m a little competitive,” Sonja said, “and I love hanging out with my friends and teammates. So, being with them and doing what I love, playing sports, [is wonderful].”
Balancing the amount of activities she does, she’s learned important life skills and built relationships through them. Her goal is to give to those around her, whether that be advice, care, or help. She leads by efficacious behavior, trying her hardest to influence her peers positively.
“I always [hope I] have a positive influence on people,” Sonja said. “I never put people down. I [am] always there for people, not even just my friends, but classmates too if they need something.”
Sonja is also in the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), an economic club that she adores. This is just another thing that consumes her time, but she manages to complete everything she needs to do wisely. She doesn’t regret the things she has tried, as they’ve all given her an experience and a lesson. It goes without saying that, to find her true place and passion, she had to go on the journey to get there.
“Get involved in more clubs and activities,” Sonja said. “It can spark new friendships or even a secret hobby that you never knew you had. You can always just try things, even if you don’t necessarily like it, [there’s always the option to] drop out too. But, don’t be scared to try.”
