Meet Sophia
Sophia is a low-key high school senior from Duxbury, Massachusetts — the kind of person who says more with a nod than most do with a full monologue. She’s been training in uechi ryu karate since she was six, and over the years that quiet focus has turned into real skill and confidence.
Karate: Small Talk, Big Kicks
In the dojo, Sophia is the type who lets her moves do the talking. She climbed the ranks until she reached red belt, learning discipline, humility, and respect along the way. Her training isn’t just about punches and kicks; it’s about locking in mentally, practicing patience, and embracing mistakes as part of getting better.
From Brooms to Blueprints
Outside the gym, Sophia has been around construction since childhood. What started as sweeping job sites turned into a genuine interest in design and marketing for her family’s building business. These days, her dining room doubles as a mini design studio where she sketches layouts and decor for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Building for Good — Literally
Her latest project has a big heart: an ADU intended for a local veteran experiencing homelessness. The plan is ambitious and generous — volunteers and donations of materials so the home can be given without cost. Sophia hopes to finish the project while she’s still in high school and to create something that can grow into a model for helping others.
Motivation and Mission
What keeps Sophia going is simple: she wants to inspire action. If her work nudges even one person to try to make a difference, then it’s worth it. Between the focused calm of karate and the hands-on creativity of construction, she’s found a way to blend practical skills with a strong sense of community service.
What’s Next
With senior year ticking by, she’s racing to see the ADU come to life. Whether it ends up as a finished unit this school year or the start of more projects down the road, Sophia’s combo of quiet determination and big ideas is already doing one thing right: making people pay attention.
