"I got into volunteering here because of the librarian at D'Evelyn, Ms. Bell," Jefferson County Public Library volunteer Sophia explains. "She really pushed me to do the Summer Challenge and volunteer here."
Sophia joined the Columbine Library volunteer team in June 2024, and one of her favorite memories was face painting during the Summer Challenge Kickoff Party. She loves how many different people come to use the Library and its resources.
"I had this idea that there weren't a whole lot of people who came to the Library in the summer," she says. "I wasn't expecting that when I first started volunteering here, so that's been really fun. The Summer Challenge definitely got me back into reading, too."
Sophia usually gravitates towards fantasy books. She loves Leigh Bardugo, especially the series Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone.
"I wish they made a Netflix show for Six of Crows like they did for Shadow and Bone," she says. "The actor for Kaz was so good. He was my favorite character in the books, so that was cool to see."
After a month of volunteering for the Summer Challenge, Sophia heard about JCPL's Teen Advisory Board (TAB) from a friend and decided to join. TAB members meet once a month to plan teen events and programs at the Library.
"Sophia's dedication, creative ideas and robust personality have helped TAB move in great directions," Teen Librarian Brian says. "Last October, the Library hosted a TAB-led haunted house. Sophia spent her time hiding throughout our Jump Scare Factory and using her high-pitched screams to bring the scares. Very few participants were able to walk through the Jump Scare Factory without flinching. That's the Halloween spirit!"
The Jump Scare Factory was one of Sophia's favorite events as well.
"I love Halloween, it's my favorite holiday," she says. "It's just really fun, and I get to hang out with my friends and dress up and be silly. When we talked about doing the haunted house program again, the feedback from the program was 'Scream like Sophia!'"
TAB voted to bring the Jump Scare Factory back this year — join the fun at Columbine Library's Halloween Party!
Sophia also participated in JCPL's Youth Development Program in 2024. During the program, high schoolers learn and practice important skills like leadership, public speaking and active listening. Then, they develop a final project in a small group. Each group creates a plan and project proposal for a new program that would address an unmet need for teens in the JeffCo community.
"Our group topic was mental health awareness for teens," Sophia explains. "One of my group mates had the idea of making a hotline, kind of like Safe2Tell, but run by teens, for teens. You could call in or text and talk to a teen your age and tell your feelings to them, and, if the situation was really serious, it would get handed over to an adult or on-site therapist."
At the end of the program, the interns presented a pitch for their final project to JCPL staff and community leaders.
"The internship was really fun," she says. "I made two really great friends there. I really liked presenting the idea at the end because I'm a big public speaker, and I liked planning our project."
Sophia's confident nature lends itself well to her extracurricular interests. She is active in theater, both as a performer and on the crew. She also co-leads a club called Youth Celebrates Diversity, which plans events like Multicultural Night, Trick or Treat Street and more. She loves photography and enjoys taking pictures of interesting landscapes, especially old mining sites with buildings that are dilapidated and falling down.
Despite having many creative hobbies, Sophia's plans involve future studies in hard sciences.
"I want to do forensic science and go into crime scene investigation," Sophia explains.
Sophia is just starting to look at colleges, but has a dream to attend the University of Stirling in Scotland.
"I've always loved the U.K. and Ireland," she says. "I think it would be tough to go to school that far away because I'm close with all my family. But they can always come visit me in Scotland!"
Columbine Library is so lucky to be the recipient of Sophia's time and creative energy. Thank you for your hard work, Sophia!