Sofia Diaz

Why did you choose to attend UM?

I chose the University of Mississippi because it is SO much more than the stereotypical “SEC college experience.” There is truly something for everyone here on this campus.  The hospitable and welcoming atmosphere surrounding this campus was so evident, and I saw that there truly is a place for everyone here to succeed as their most authentic self.

When and how did you choose your major(s)/minor(s)?

I have always been fascinated with the complexity of the brain and mind, so choosing psychology was a really easy choice for me before entering college.

Growing up in a culturally diverse household, I was exposed to Russian from a very early age by my native Russian mother, but wanted to further immerse myself into the culture of it here, at UM, while also having the opportunity to meet others with a shared interest and love for the language and culture.

What would you tell a high school student about your major?

Being a Psychology major will bring you so many new experiences because you are learning something new about others, and also yourself, everyday. The teachers are so eager to educate you on the various types of psychology as well as the numerous roles it can play in your life. In each lecture, no matter the instructor, I can see the deep passion that each of them have for this subject in particular. Their dedication to bettering their students inside and out of the classroom is always evident.

Can you tell me about a professor or a class you've taken that has had the most impact on you?

I really enjoyed my personality psychology class with Dr. Andrew Hales. He was so excited to teach us everything he knew about personality, tying in his own research and studies as well, and he kept the classroom environment light and positive.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

As of right now, I am planning on attending law school following my graduation. There has been an ignited passion for me to enter a career world where there would be numerous opportunities to serve others with skills and expertise.

Apart from school, how do you spend your time in Oxford?

I love how walkable everything is, and I have taken full advantage of the beautiful town that this campus resides in. Our campus is one of my favorite places to walk as I go from building to building each day, so that is a treasure in itself, but to have the Oxford Square right down the street is the cherry on top! That being said, obviously, I am a frequent walker in various places around Oxford whether I explore by myself or with friends. I also enjoy the community in Oxford as well, so I love attending the farmer’s markets. I also love visiting sites that dive into the history of the town and Mississippi itself, such as the Rowan Oak – William Faulkner’s former estate, and even just driving around to look at old houses and buildings too!

What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you'd tell your past self?

I wish I could go back and tell my past self to slow down, and take it all in. I feel like that is something that I still have to remind myself of because there is so much opportunity to fall into comparison and rush into things that might not be right for you. I was so involved in high school, so coming to college I felt this need to meet a standard of joining everything right away. I thankfully realized that it was okay to take a step back and see the plethora of options that are available to me as a student here at UM. I decided to dive into things that really piqued my interest, and focused less on meeting the standard of being a part of the “biggest things.” At the end of the day, you want to be able to talk about the organizations you were a part of with deep passion and understanding, and your “big things” might not be the same as the person next to you, but they still matter because they are what matter most to YOU! Use that to your advantage!