A Hernando Christian Academy senior reaches out to enrich the lives of those around her while reaching for her own dreams as well.
By LOGAN NEILL
Published October 23, 2003
BROOKSVILLE - Sonia Kumar is smart, friendly and diligent. She seems to know what makes people tick.
And if those are the qualities that go into making a fine leader, then the Hernando Christian Academy senior is certain to have a future as one.
The affable 17-year-old is highly regarded around her campus. She is a straight-A student, has often served in student government and contributes much to the community she lives in through volunteer work.
But the thing people probably notice most about Sonia is her ability to communicate with people and make them feel comfortable.
"She has an instinctive personality about her," said Jessica Lovett, Hernando Christian's student activities coordinator, who has come to know Sonia well during her six years at the school. "She's also very giving and loves to help others, especially younger children."
Sonia says that helping others is just her nature, something that's been a part of her makeup since she was a child growing up in Zimbabwe. Her mother always instilled that leadership comes from a sense of connection to one's community.
"The idea of giving something back to the place you live is very important in that culture," Sonia said. "By thinking of others, you build character into your life, a sense of values that you take with you for the rest of your life."
The Spring Hill teen has always tried to do just that.
In addition to being a top student in academics, she is a standout on the school's volleyball and basketball squads.
But Sonia's abilities reach far beyond the school campus. Whether as a mentor in the Hernando Big Sisters program, as a counselor at community youth sports camps or as a volunteer occupational therapist at Spring Hill Regional Hospital, she has found a deep sense of satisfaction in trying to make her world a little brighter.
But Sonia has had to deal with her share of sadness, too. Last spring, she suffered a crushing personal blow with the loss of her mother to an illness. It took a lot of time to get over, but Sonia quickly realized that her mother's wisdom had prepared her for such things.
"She taught me the true value of life and how important it was to reach for your dreams," she said. For Sonia, those dreams are helping to shape a future in either medicine or biological research.
Whatever she decides to do, Sonia - whose honors include a Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership award, a stint as a representative to the national Presidential Classroom Conference and a spot on the National Achievers Society Brain Bowl team - seems to be well acquainted withwhat it takes to be successful.
"My parents always taught me that achieving goals meant taking advantage of opportunities that come your way," Sonia said. "I've always strived for my best and always appreciated the help I've gotten along the way."
