If Sofia Peña y Lillo Class of 2015 had a personal motto, it might be that “less than 110% isn’t an option.” In nearly every facet of Sofia’s life she explores her surroundings, finds opportunities, and pursues her passions, living life to its fullest, and in her words, “why wouldn’t I?”
That’s only one of the reasons that Watershed is thrilled that Sofia has agreed to serve on our Board of Trustees! Tracy Halgren P’19, ‘23 and Chair of the Board of Trustees, says, “Sofia’s genuine love and passion for Watershed is infectious. She will bring an important alumni voice to the group and she’s excited to pay it forward, ensuring that Watershed is here for years to come- we’ll surely benefit from her strength and commitment!”
Following an impactful and successful three years at Watershed School, Sofia matriculated to the University of Colorado, Boulder where she intended to pursue a B.A. in Media Studies. Before too long, she added a second major- Media Production- and then a third in Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts. And she did all of that while working full-time in the child care industry. Sofia reflects, “I’m a curious person and as my interests led in multiple directions simultaneously, I thought, well, why would I bother with a minor, when I could do another major...or two or three? Due to my personality and, perhaps in part to being a first-generation college student, I was determined to take full advantage of all that CU had to offer.”
After graduating from CU, Sofia remained in Boulder for a few years, working as a photographer and graphic artist as well as making jewelry on the side. She loved how this work satisfied her creative side but, especially with the pandemic, she began to miss working as part of a team, and (blame Watershed?) she wanted to explore physical and intellectual places outside of her comfort zone. So, when an opportunity to move to New York City came up this spring, she jumped at it!
“I work with a mortgage company- it’s about 180० from what I was doing before and I love it,” remarked Sofia. “It has the intensity and energy of a recent start-up, I’m working on a team, and I’m talking with people every day. My company emphasizes education and transparency in the mortgage and home buying process- that’s important to me. I love helping people find a way to buy their first home, refinance their existing home, or close on an income property. And, I like that I’m developing this new skill set- who knows what adventures it will all lead to next?!”
Speaking of next, Sofia definitely has plans outside of her work life! She’ll continue to pursue one of her creative passions- photography- and is in the planning stages of collaborating on a Zine with a friend. Once more settled in her new city life, she plans to become involved with organizations who are pushing for immigration reform. And, of course, there’s her new role on Watershed’s Board of Trustees! When asked why she joined the board, Sofia replied, “It’s so important to me to remain connected with Watershed! I’ve always wanted the very best for the school and its future is so important to me. When the opportunity to help Watershed continue to build a healthy school, healthy vision, and healthy future through board service, I was thrilled!” She continued, “Simply put, Watershed was a 10 out of 10 for me. My character and learning style were embraced at Watershed. I traveled around the world. I want to make sure that Watershed is there for others- now and into the future. I’m really interested in the Watershed board’s current diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and am excited to support my school to do the hard, but vital work it takes to move beyond good intentions and to truly become a more inclusive community.”
