Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog. I am back again introducing another one of my friends, Sofia. Sofia and I went to the same high school, and we met in my french class during my junior year of high school.
Sofia has been cheer leading ever since she was little. She loved the sport, and loved being able to be on the sidelines and cheering on her team, or even competitively cheering, and competing against some of the best teams in the country.
Even though she loves cheer, it has not always been the way she dreamed of. In our society today, the picture-perfect cheerleader is skinny, blond, very toned, and tall. At competitions, your team’s score is based on the performance, but also the look of the team. For Sofia, it was very hard to not compare herself to other girls. She also was struggling with her confidence, since she was pressured to be the “perfect” cheerleader.
Sofia has struggled with her body image for a while. During her cheer times, she was also struggling with an eating disorder. The constant pressure of being perfect, and finding herself, was one of the biggest struggles she has faced. This lead to extreme lows of depression and anxiety. Sofia was trying to find herself but felt lost.
Sofia always considered herself an outgoing and energetic person. However, her depression and anxiety really affected her. She began to isolate herself. She was constantly struggling with the racing thoughts in her head. It was a constant struggle, and she is still working on it day after day.
Sofia has found a new passion that helps her, when she is feeling low. She is very interested in journalism and wants to major in journalism and political science in college. Talking to Sofia, she said she loves writing about things she is passionate about. She is a news editor for her high school newspaper. Her favorite article she has written was about mental health in quarantine, and an interview with Chris Pappas, a U.S. Representative for New Hampshire.
Sofia is also passionate about acting. She loves acting and performing, and even though she struggles with other people’s opinions, she loves being on the stage, with the spotlight on her, and it reminds her how strong she really is. Sofia is a member of the theater club at her high school and has performed in many shows. She is looking forward to continuing her theater and journalism career.
After talking with Sofia, I am truly inspired by her. She has faced a lot in her life, but she is continuing every day to work hard and grow. I am really proud of her and happy to call her a friend.
Sofia also has an Instagram about mental health: @selfcarewithsof
Sofia at a cheer competition for her high school.
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