Sophia Duran ’27
Goats, kindergartners, and “words into action”: Nazareth experiences support Sophia Duran’s goals
- Major: Public Health, B.S.
- Minor: Pre-vet
Growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by pet dogs, guinea pigs, turtles, and fish, Sophia Duran '27 knew early that she loved animals. She first set her sights on becoming a veterinarian and then shifted to focus on public health veterinary epidemiology, to respond to and prevent disease outbreaks in animal populations.
“I think it’s one of those jobs I know I can do for many hours and still have joy, for 20-plus years,” she says.
So a highlight of college life so far is her Nazareth community engagement job feeding and caring for goats, chickens, emus, and other farm animals at a shelter for homeless or abused animals.
She was drawn to Nazareth when she spent time on campus at a peer leadership education program. She heard about Nazareth’s pre-vet program, loved the beautiful campus, and appreciated the personal attention available in small classes. “I needed a small setting and that one-on-one engagement,” she says. “I think I get the best education like that. I knew Naz would support that.”
She was accepted into Nazareth’s Bonner Leader Scholarship Program. The four-year program weaves together community engagement, training, and mentoring to help students develop skills and experiences necessary to become changemakers. Bonner students have learning sessions together on campus and spend time supporting and learning in a paid role with a community partner. The program includes scholarship support to help students cover college costs.
“The resources from Bonner and what I do weekly for sure help me think,” Sophia says. “Being out on the field puts those words into action.”
First year: Civil rights and tutoring
During her first year, Sophia says, she found inspiration from Nazareth’s week-long, winter break Civil Rights Journey trip to Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, open to all Nazareth students. “I would suggest that to everybody.” She found it inspiring to hear from people who were part of historic events seeking equality for all.
That transformative experience opened her eyes to the interconnected nature of social progress and now shapes how Sophia approaches her ongoing community work. “There’s so much I wish could be better in the world,” Sophia says. “From climate to education to housing for all … There’s a lot of things I wish could change.”
She’s advancing her knowledge and skills about how to have an impact on issues that matter to her through the ongoing sessions with her Bonner peers and community experiences.
During her first year, she worked with children in a Rochester kindergarten class twice a week. As she helped youngsters write their names, practice letter sounds, add and subtract numbers, and plant flowers in cups — a very messy activity — she, in turn, gained perspective and skills working with people. “Little kids are so honest.” They can be sweet, too. “They say, ‘You’re doing great, Miss Sophia. You’re amazing. Thank you, Miss Sophia.’ ”
She saw children make progress and saw others struggling. “You just want to see the kids succeed.” She also developed a new level of respect for all that teachers do and their patience.
That first summer, her leadership training included a three-day national Bonner Student Learning Institute conference in Ohio, with workshops on changemaking and wellness, information about great internships, career-readiness steps, and learning what Bonner students are doing at other colleges. A one-day spring regional conference in New Jersey for Bonner sophomores provided a great chance to connect with other peers.
Second year: Gaining animal care insights
She particularly enjoyed her second year’s experiences with animals at the Lollypop Farm animal shelter. “Some of them just have my heart,” she says.
“Pigs are so smart,” she adds. “They remember you.” She remembers them and their cute names, like Reese's Pieces, Trix, and Cheerios.
The hands-on learning has its hard moments, too, like seeing animals go through cancer or having to euthanize them. “Someone does have to do it, and I’m willing to be that person,” she says. “I want to be there for the animals.”
Reflecting on her experiences and what she’s learned, she adds, “I think I’m doing the best I can do to be a changemaker. You can’t fix it all. But your little action is fixing something.”
Her advice to high school students looking ahead to college: “It’s OK if you don’t know it all right now,” Sophia says. She faced struggles at the beginning. She worried whether she could fit in community service and schoolwork. But over time, she found, “You love doing it. Connecting with something you care about makes you wake up happy.”