HUMANS OF BELLAIRE – Sofia Abello

“Overall [high school was] unimpressive. When you’re in middle school, you have this grand idea of high school. I was expecting a classic ‘80s movie, but we don’t even have lockers. I was a little disappointed. It’s not as exciting as people think it will be.

I like to read. If it’s a fiction work, I like sci-fi or fantasy. If it’s nonfiction, I like a lot of philosophical and psychological books. [My] reading hobby impacted me a lot because I excelled in my English classes. Reading those books that are more serious makes you reflect on yourself. It makes you not just a better student but also a [better] person because it makes you think more about what’s going on in people’s lives.

I’ve become a lot more well-rounded. I understand more things about the world. Freshman year, I started off as a very opinionated child. As I’ve grown, I’ve become more educated on those opinions, and I’m more understanding of other people’s opinions. After four years, you’re not going to learn nothing.

I’ve been conditionally admitted to Leiden University in The Hague for International Studies. I’ll be focusing on Latin America because I want to become an ambassador for the U.S. to Latin America. I’m half Cuban, so the relationships between Cuba and the U.S. were always talked about in my family. I think going to Meyerland Middle School also [sparked my interest] because it’s such a diverse school. There were classes where I was the only white person, and I think that made me realize there are a lot more issues than just everything I’ve been facing.

I’m always having a crush on somebody. I’ve learned over the years that I always based my life off of having a crush. But I realized starting my junior year that this is so stupid. Why do I have to have that? Why does everybody have to have some sort of romantic interest? It’s 2023. I can do whatever I want. If I don’t have a romantic relationship, then that’s fine. I’m just going to focus on whatever I want to do in life.

If you see other kids running in the hall laughing and being loud and you think, ‘Hey, that looks like something I should do’ because it looks like people would like you because of it, don’t do it. You’re your own person. You can be yourself. [Even if] you’re seeing other kids do something, it’s fine to not do it.

I want to be remembered as someone who did something, someone who actually made a change. Some people want to be remembered for being funny, for being loving, for being caring. I don’t care about that. I want to be remembered for having an impact on somebody.”