A typical day for Sonia begins with a bowl of homemade Russian porridge, known as kasha, before diving into her schoolwork. Afternoons are often filled with activities like hip-hop dance, theater, or Spanish lessons. While it may not sound overly packed, her weekly schedule keeps her busy — something she enjoys because it gives her plenty of opportunities to socialize and explore her interests.

Sonia has been bilingual in Russian and English for as long as she can remember. Encouraged by her mother, she began learning Spanish at a young age and is now nearly fluent. Most recently, she has added Chinese to her growing list of languages. “I want to learn as many languages as possible while I’m still young,” she says, recognizing how they can open doors for travel and future opportunities.

Theater is another important part of Sonia’s life. She performs both in Russian with a local community theater group and at Phoenix Youth Theater (PYT), where she studies improv and voice. The Russian theater group, still growing after four years, has allowed her to stay connected to her culture and even travel. While she enjoys performing, she says the friendships she’s built are what truly keep her involved.

Academically, Sonia is equally impressive. She is currently taking a college-level math class at ASU — a milestone she’s proud to have reached after realizing just how much she already knew. Though the class is challenging, she understands its long-term value and remains committed to pushing herself.

Her interest in STEM began during the pandemic, when she experimented with building projects, robotics, and eventually coding. She has been coding for about three years and recently completed the highest level at her online coding school. Sonia hopes to continue developing those skills and potentially pursue a future in science, engineering, or technology.

Creativity also plays a major role in her life. In addition to dance and theater, Sonia loves drawing, sculpting clay figures, and animation. She has even created her own imaginative character called the “Phrog” — a bean-shaped creature that comes in different colors and personalities. Whether sketching, sculpting, or animating, she finds art to be both expressive and relaxing.

Sonia says she’s most proud of how much she has improved in art and math over the years. Above all, she credits her mom as her biggest inspiration — encouraging her to try new things while allowing her the freedom to discover what she truly enjoys.

Her advice to other kids? “Just keep trying. Try everything, and stick with what you end up enjoying.”

With her curiosity, creativity, and drive, Sonia is proving that exploration and passion can go hand in hand — and at just 12, she’s only getting started.