More Than Just The Facts
- La Voz Latina
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Written by: Emely Gonzalez 🇸🇻
Sofia Appolonio believes that success is not defined by the outcome, but by the path she took after not limiting herself against the big challenges.
Appolonio, a student majoring in journalism, knew from a young age how her pathway would start. During her earlier years, she used her classroom’s daily morning prayers to report about the morning’s news story.
“I'm thinking about these children in Oklahoma who I saw on the news today, and [because of this] they really mattered to me, and I felt like I was sharing this information with my classmates who weren't as informed. And so that felt like a very natural career progression for me,” she said.
As her interest in journalism grew, Appolonio began to discover where she fit within the field.
“A big reason why I went into journalism is because I got into feature writing,” she said. “I found them to be the most engaging, and I liked in-depth reporting, as opposed to the facts of what's going on in the world.”
When Appolonio first stepped into her role as an editor for The Diamondback at the end of her freshman year, the pressure of feeling inexperienced compared to her co-editors made her question whether she had reached a dead end in pursuing journalism.
“It had me contemplating, just like quitting the major, because when all that pressure was on me, I was like, ‘I don't know if I can handle this or if I'm good enough,’” she said.
Appolonio found a new way forward by reaching out for help.
“Reaching out for help has been a huge thing, and it's broken me out of my comfort zone,” she said.
With graduation around the corner, Appolonio reflects on her work with The Diamondback and her internships with Bethesda Magazine and Baltimore Magazine.
She also looks back on her independent studies and the mentorship she participated in to those who have come after her at The Diamondback, realizing that the paths she has taken have also helped shape those who crossed paths with her.
“I once had someone tell me the work that I did wasn't important because of my personal interests, and I really carried that for a long time,” she said. “Work I did was important and it mattered. It mattered to a lot of people, and it matters a lot if—even if it only matters to me, that still makes it important.”
"Sofia has grown so much in the past four years both intellectually and personally. I learn so much from her. I look forward to witnessing her next chapter.” - Raquel Appolonio
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