Meet Sofia, a High School Graduate Enrolled in Smith College for a Liberal Arts Degree 

Meet Sofia, a Clarke Philadelphia alum from 2010, who is currently pursuing a Liberal Arts Degree from Smith College. Sofia was born with hearing loss in Guatemala and adopted by her current family in the United States. This sparked her particular interest in learning more about Guatemala’s healthcare system and supports for individuals with hearing loss. 

Entering senior year of high school, Sofia was tasked with researching a global issue and interviewing experts in the field relative to the issue. Sofia decided to research the global effects of hearing loss and interviewed Judy Sexton, MS, CED LSLS Cert AVEd, Clarke’s head of programs and schools and interim president.  

To further enrich the conversation, Judy connected Sofia with Paige Stringer, founder and executive director of the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. 

“I asked questions about Paige’s work, how our country’s healthcare differs from other countries, along with how mainstreaming children with hearing loss can be hard on both the children and parents,” explains Sofia. 

Through her international research, Sofia discovered there is only one professionally trained audiologist in Guatemala, Dr. Paty Castellanos.  

Judy and Paige also connected Sofia with Paty to deepen her research and overall learning experience. 

After Sofia’s insightful conversation with Paty, discussing the need for more Guatemala-native hearing loss professionals, Sofia discovered her passion for interviewing and researching within the international relations field and beyond. She says, “I hope to dedicate my time researching global challenges, how the world is changing environmentally and how to find ways to save our environment.” 

Sofia is a recipient of the Caroline A. Yale Memorial Fund Scholarship and she intends to use the funds to fuel her academic ventures.