BESTIE: Sofia Best’s Poly experience.
Sofia Best, one of the captains of the girl’s varsity lacrosse team, came to Poly her junior year from STEM. Hesitant at first, twelfth grade Sofia Best decided to come to Poly because of her athletic connection, already running cross country and playing lacrosse. Her little sister would be coming to Poly so it was of her best interest to start here. Sofia shared that STEM differs from Poly because of the small, close knit community, compared to Poly’s big pool of students. She described her first day of senior year as, “the first day of the end,” and thought it very important to mention her great friend, Nova Camacho. He has been a friend that she could be herself with and has always felt very comfortable with.
A teacher she would like to recognize is Mr. Ermert, because of his ability to connect on a personal level and how much he loves what he does. Sofia, or bestie as referred to by her lacrosse team, plans to pursue the promise program at Riverside Community College majoring in kinesiology and come back to help coach her teammates. She is passionate about the sport. “I want to stay with the sport so maybe I can play in two years when I transfer,” she emphasized. The requirements for Sofia Best to want to transfer to your college is to have a good physical therapy program and lacrosse team, she is keeping tabs on you Whittier. School feels like a routine to the young woman, so it hasn’t quite hit her that she won’t be coming to class each morning.
Sofia would like to thank her senior year for giving her the wisdom to be unapologetically herself, and not care what others think of her. Sofia wants her little sister, Nora, to know “you don’t have to sweat the small stuff, focus on school and prioritize what is important to you.” Her favorite memory with Poly is this year’s prom at The Aquarium of the Pacific, being able to spend time with her boyfriend and best friend, Tyler. They were able to walk around with the fish and make memories of a lifetime. Sofia wants to leave you with, “I wouldn’t be surprised if anybody that read this didn’t know who I was, and I don’t care.” Confident, a great leader, friend, and student, Poly is thankful to have been a part of Sophia Best’s story.