Sophia Nance is a senior in Texas ECE. She serves as a peer mentor in the academic advising office. We sat down with Sophia to learn more about her student experience in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
HOW DID YOU END UP AT UT? WHAT PATH LED YOU HERE?
I am from Laredo, TX. I chose UT Austin because 1. It was in my state, 2. It’s a great school for engineering, and 3. Austin is a big city that has a lot of opportunities. I chose to study ECE because I have always felt good at STEM topics, and I felt that an ECE degree is malleable. You can turn an ECE degree into a multitude of different job opportunities, and I’m personally hoping to combine my passion for music with my love for STEM!
WHO HAS BEEN A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE?
My parents and my grandma have been the biggest influences in my life. All three of them have brilliant minds, and even more brilliant hearts! It has been a blessing to grow up in an environment that offers a balance of structure/hard work and true, wholesome love.
IF YOU COULD PROVIDE ONE POSITIVE MEMORY OF YOUR TIME AT UT SO FAR THAT STANDS OUT, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
In my junior year, I took Digital Signal Processing Lab with Dr. Evans. He told us to set a goal in the beginning of the semester, and my goal was to get an A in the class. And guess what…? I did! I got an A-, making it the first A I’ve ever gotten in an ECE course. I never believed in myself as an ECE major before this class, but getting this A helped me learn that I am capable of succeeding in ECE! It was a big moment for me because I shed this mentality of “barely getting by” with my grades. I realized that I could achieve bigger things– not just the bare minimum.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS?
I hope to find careers in any sort of music technology or audio processing in general. I would love to work with/design analog music technologies.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A PEER MENTOR AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU?
I became a peer mentor because I had no idea what I was getting into when I started ECE! I hope I can help any student who feels lost or wants a sense of belonging in the ECE community. It’s important to me because community is key to a healthy student culture. I appreciate the initiatives that the ECE department has been taking to help students feel like they belong, and I’d love to be a part of these initiatives.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO HAVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY?
If the university doesn’t have a diverse community, then the university stagnates and fails in its only duty– to educate and expand students’ horizons. Without diversification, UT is an echo chamber of the same (and many times, harmful) ideologies. UT has nothing to lose and everything to win by bringing in students from different walks of life. UT should always feel like a welcoming environment for all potential scholars.
WHAT DOES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MEAN TO YOU?
Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on what it is for one to be “Hispanic.” Oftentimes the word “Hispanic” is treated as an all-encompassing term for anyone with roots in Latin America or Spain. But this can cause erasure of the multiple sub-ethnic groups under this umbrella term. So Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate but also learn about the many identities and cultures of Hispanic/Latinx people.
HOW HAS YOUR HISPANIC HERITAGE AFFECTED YOUR LIFE IN A UNIQUE WAY?
I grew up in Laredo, Texas, which is a bordertown. It has its own unique blend of Mexican and American culture. I love who I am today, and who I am today is a reflection of what Laredo has taught me growing up.
