For Sofia Taborda, getting into college was only the beginning.
Now a student at Columbia University studying neuroscience and behavior on the pre-med track, Sofia is navigating the academic pressure, independence, and unfamiliar systems that come with college. As a first-generation college student, she is learning how to find her footing in an environment that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
“There are definitely moments of imposter syndrome,” Sofia says. But through Minds Matter Boston’s College & Career Success program, she knows she still has a community to turn to.
“Being first gen and knowing Minds Matter Boston is still there for me is amazing,” she says. “Knowing you’re not alone—and knowing there are different strategies—is comforting.”
That continued support builds on relationships Sofia formed years earlier as a student at O’Bryant High School. Her Minds Matter Boston mentors, Annabel and Aaron, helped her through the college application process, from managing deadlines to revising essays during late-night Zoom calls. Their support helped Sofia become a QuestBridge Scholar and ultimately enroll at Columbia.
Today, the challenges look different. Sofia is learning how to balance demanding coursework, navigate college resources, and think about what she wants her future to look like. She is especially interested in understanding how a person’s environment and experiences shape the brain and hopes to complement her studies with interests in business or political science.
She is also beginning to think about how she can support others. Sofia hopes to mentor younger students and, one day, establish a foundation of her own.
“I don’t ever want to leave Minds Matter Boston and the family I built there,” she says. “I want to give a little piece back of what they built in me.”
For Sofia, Minds Matter Boston was never just about getting into college. It was about building the confidence, relationships, and support system to keep moving forward once she got there.
