The Stylish Teen Maximalist Who’s All About Getting Out Of Her Comfort Zone
Plus: 5 of my favorite things atm 🍫
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Bloomer in the Spotlight 🌼
Meet Sophia, a self-described “maximalist” whose bold, bright style is almost enough to make a New Yorker briefly forget about these frigid winter temperatures.
Born in Miami and raised in Georgia, some of Sophia’s favorite activities involve hanging outside in the sunshine, be it practicing roller skating or picnicking with friends (she’s on fruit duty). Below, we chat about what sparked this high school senior’s love for science, which she plans on studying in college, navigating growth with friendships, and more.
Late Bloomer: I love this photo you shared with me where you’re very casually holding a snake. What’s the story behind that?
Sophia: I’m part of National Georgia 4-H, which is an organization where you work on leadership and agriculture. This past summer, I was a team leader at the Clover Leaf Camp, which is for kids from fifth grade to middle school. I went to all their workshops and they were trying to show us, “Oh, snakes aren’t scary” and trying to get us to hold them. So I volunteered. Her name was Dottie. She was super cute. I just love trying new things so I was like, “Yeah, I hold the snake” [laughs].
LB: How does it feel to be a high school senior?
Sophia: I kind of love and hate it, honestly. It’s a lot of stress, but it’s good stress. It’s finally seeing all your hard work pay off and seeing your friends blossom into what they wanted to do and make big decisions. It’s rewarding, but also scary.
It's really hard to plan and have time to hang out with your friends. It's kind of realizing it's okay to not be in touch all the time. It’s letting people go on their own paths. I found myself a little bit upset that we're not as tight as we used to be in middle school, but it’s because we all have things to do. I'm really proud of all my friends and how they’ve found what they love.
LB: What are your post-high school plans?
Sophia: College, definitely. I’ve been accepted to Kennesaw State University––that’s a local college near me––but my dream school is Georgia Tech.
LB: What excites you about Georgia Tech?
Sophia: Right now, I’m studying cybersecurity, which is basically securing data with computers and making sure your information is safe online. I like that and I like computer science. My original interest was always biology––I really like biomedical engineering. So with my research, Georgia Tech is one the best schools for STEM majors and engineers. That’s my goal and where I want to go.
LB: When did you realize this was something you were really passionate about?
Sophia: That’s a good question. I want to say my spark in science specifically was in middle school––I think in eighth grade when I took physical science. I was like, “Oh my gosh, I love this. I wanna do it; it makes sense to me.” And then in ninth grade I took AP Biology and that class just changed my outlook on science forever. I could see myself doing this in the future and helping people with what I know.
LB: Beyond 4-H, are you involved in any other extracurriculars?
Sophia: I work with my city’s mayor to give teen input and I work with other teens in my city to see what we really need and our outlook on ways to improve our city. I’d say our most successful venture was when we held a career fair. A lot of my friends are on the council with me and we talked about how it’s really hard to know what to do going into an interview as a teen who’s never had a job and building your resume. We were like, we should have a workshop that teaches kids how to get a job or look into careers they’re interested in. It’s about inclusion and getting people’s voices out there. It can be hard to figure out where you belong in your city.
Otherwise, I’d say it’s just activities at school, like Honors Club. I play Frisbee. And I also really like roller skating.
LB: When did you start roller skating?
Sophia: Ever since I was little in Miami we went to the roller skating rink every weekend. Then I kind of dropped it when we moved to Georgia. But then with the pandemic, roller skating became really popular during 2020. So I picked it up again and I’m trying to get good at it but it’s still developing.
LB: What do you and your friends do when you hang out together?
Sophia: We’re really big on picnics.
LB: Ooh.
Sophia: I love food. Picnics are a great way to come together, share food and little projects we’re working on and just talk.
I usually bring fruit. Like, if I had to pick a food group it would be fruit because I can’t live without it [laughs]. But my favorite food is sushi––we always bring sushi. My one friend will bring these cucumber sandwiches. They’re really dainty and cute. I love them. The first time we brought them to a picnic we actually left them on top of her car and drove through the park and they flew off. Another one of my friends makes macarons herself.
LB: What does self-care look like to you?
Sophia: I love skincare. My skin is very dry so I have to moisturize it constantly. I cleanse, I tone, sometimes I use a serum. I love cocoa or shea butter. Sunscreen is also a secret, too. I feel like people don’t wear it every day but you should.
LB: Which apps do you use the most?
Sophia: Definitely TikTok. That’s a little embarrassing, but it’s at the top of my list. I love Pinterest. I’m big on organizing so Pinterest is perfect for me ‘cause you get to sort pictures and videos into little categories. It’s super cute. Then I’d have to say Instagram. I’m not very big on Snapchat. I pop in there like once a day to see what’s going on.
LB: What kind of stuff do you like to pin on Pinterest?
Sophia: Outfit inspiration. I don’t like minimalist outfits. I am the exact opposite of a minimalist. I guess that’s a maximalist.
LB: What’s your style aesthetic?
Sophia: I like a lot of big colors. I’m been trying to get back into thrifting recently because I never really mastered it. I’d say I don’t do a lot of online shopping. The last online shopping I did was from ASOS. I do most of my shopping at TJ Maxx, Target, and Kohl’s.
LB: What’s something that’s bringing you joy right now?
Sophia: I finished Gilmore Girls and now I’m on Grey’s Anatomy. I’m trying to get into those classic movies that I feel like everybody’s seen, but I haven’t.
LB: Are you Team Jess, Dean, or Logan?
Sophia: This is really controversial. I feel like Rory should’ve ended up with Logan but her character at the time was going through so much that she just couldn’t see the end vision with him. She and Jess were the best couple. They had the best chemistry.
Connecting with people and branching out of my comfort zone also brings me joy. I feel like senior year has really done that. I go to a lot more events. I talk to a lot more people just to get different perspectives. I’m focusing on myself, too and learning how to balance between being in big groups of people and really loving that self-time
LB: Is there anything else you wanted to touch on?
Sophia: Teens should have more time to talk in real-life. I don’t hate social media––I love social media. It’s where I spend most of my time. But sometimes I feel like you get removed from reality a little bit.
LB: I feel that. Even though it’s where everyone “lives” it’d also be nice to have more of those conversations in-person instead of behind screens.
Sophia: You can’t get behind somebody’s experience if you just see their posts or something they re-posted.
LB: It sounds like you’re really trying to intentionally make those connections on-screen and off, which can be difficult to do. That’s awesome.
Sophia: I think that’s really important because connections drive your life.
A few of Sophia’s favorite things:
Moon Boots: I don't know what it is about these clunky shoes, but I love them. They're super trendy with the fashion influencers I follow online. I think I saw them on Pinterest for the first time and I just had to have them. They're on my wishlist for now, but the second I get the chance to go skiing or to a snowy location, I am purchasing these designer shoes. Or maybe I'll get them to just walk around in.
Yoga and working out: I'm not your average high school athlete, but that's okay lol. I've picked up a habit of full body workouts at least twice a week besides my frisbee and roller skating sessions. I like to follow workouts on YouTube. My favorite channel is MadFit. She has some great workouts on her channel.
Braiding and protective styles: I have worn my hair in its natural 4C texture for YEARS. I love my hair, but it can be hard to manage with all of my other responsibilities. This summer I got my hair professionally braided for the first time and fell in love. Protective styles are so versatile and they let me style my hair in an easy way. My favorite styles would have to be passion twists or box braids. Here’s my Pinterest hair board for this one; there should be some protective styles sprinkled in there.
OLIPOP strawberry vanilla soda: My family is big on health drinks and trying new healthy foods. I love kombucha, so when I heard about OLIPOP prebiotic sodas, I knew I had to try them. The strawberry vanilla one is to die for. The flavor is sweet and dark at the same time, plus it's good for your gut!
Chai tea lattes: These or an iced matcha are my go-to drink at Starbucks. If you're feeling fancy, making a chai tea yourself could be fun. Here's one recipe I like.
Sophia adds, “For good measure, I also have to mention how obsessed I am with TikTok street interviews, specifically on college campuses. They're super entertaining and I love hearing people's responses to absurd questions. One interviewer I find really funny is @jaseyphats on TikTok.”
tysm, Sophia! 🌼
Beyond the Algorithm 🔮
Happy New Year! Just for funsies, here’s 5 of my favorite things atm:
1. Ozark. I am *incredibly* late to the party on this series but I finally started watching it on New Year’s Eve with my mom and dang. I’m hooked!
2. Classic Ultra Mini UGG Platform Boots. These babies were originally backordered until January when I ordered them but I magically received them early. A Christmas miracle for this 5’2” gal.
3. Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate With Corn Flakes. The fancy adult version of a Crunch chocolate bar, imo.
4. Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum. I splurged big-time with this but I swear I wake up and my face feels smoother and more hydrated.
5. Otter postage stamps. Look how cute these stamps of otters playing in the snow are. It brings me joy every time I slap one on an envelope.
ICYMI 🗞
How the Cheesecake Factory became the “it girl” of chain restaurants.
“From the first time I spoke up at that first rally, full of rage, with a shaved head, I’d become a symbol, and that’s what the people who came to see us wanted from me.” ––X González, who became an instant celebrity, activist, and “survivor” after the Parkland shooting. The pressure almost killed them.
In the meantime… ✨
I enjoyed the Harry & Meghan docu-series on Netflix! Every conceivable take has already been given but I will say this: it has an excellent playlist. Also, I can’t wait for the day Meg––or should I say, “M”––relaunches her public Instagram.
And here’s a song to get ya through the week:
P.S. We wanna hear from you! 🐌
Want to nominate a friend (or yourself!) for “Bloomer in the Spotlight”? Got a brilliant recommendation for “Beyond the Algorithm” or just wanna say hey?
Get in touch at latebloomernewsletter@gmail.com 💘