Sophia Francisco '23
Political science major Sophia Francisco ’23 is leaving Florida Southern College prepared to navigate law school and life.
The FSC senior who will graduate May 6 and is currently waiting to hear back from law schools before deciding which one to attend in Fall 2023.
Florida Southern’s smaller class sizes and the fact that she found the campus environment
welcoming to incoming students are what drew Francisco to the College.
Sophia with fellow SGA Executive Board Member, Hannah Garcia '23 at the 2023 Frank Lloyd Wright Day.
“At FSC, I have been able to take courses within and outside of my major that will help me reach my goal of being an attorney,” Francisco said. “Some of mypolitical scienceclasses have been Political Theory, Southern Politics, and U.S. Foreign Security. I have also taken courses like Legal Writing, Victimology, and Persuasion, all of which have helped me move closer to my goal. My involvement in the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) organizations on campus has also helped me get closer to my goal because I plan to be an attorney for marginalized populations.”
Francisco is a part of the Multicultural Student Council (MSC), Student Government Association (SGA), the Black Student Union (BSU), the Hispanic & Latinx Student Coalition (HLSC), and Asian Pacific Islander Student Association (APISA). Participating in those organizations allowed her to advocate and magnify the voices of diversity organizations at the College. Her desire was to bridge the gap between upper administration and the student body concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I try my best to attend as many DEI events as possible but those are the ones I am most involved with,” Francisco said. “I was the MSC president for the 2022-2023 academic year, SGA vice president of DEI for 2022-2023, and was a FSC Scholars Experience Peer Mentor.”
Working at the Evett L. Simmons ‘79 Center for Multicultural Appreciation gave Francisco the opportunity to plan and lead events hosted by the center, provide in-depth tours of the center while answering questions for guests, and design infographics about historical figures in different cultures.
Interning on and off campus has also been a part of Francisco’s experiential engaged learning process.
“I have had a few internships here on campus,” she said. “My freshman year I was a Guardian ad Litem (a person appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in a legal proceeding), but that was cut short due to the pandemic. Sophomore year I interned with the Justice Teaching Center here on campus. I also interned at Espinoza Law Offices, which is an immigration firm here in Lakeland. This past semester I have been an intern with Becky Higgs in the Office of Advancement.”
Francisco worked with the Office of Advancement to organize homecoming weekend this semester. She also took part in planning the alumni trip to Washington D.C. scheduled for this summer.
The future attorney who is from Pembroke Pines is not sure where she wants to live when she finishes law school. New York and Washington, D.C. are at the top of her list.
Her advice to incoming freshmen is to make the most of their time on campus.
“Go to DEI events, participate in ACE (Association of Campus Entertainment) challenges, run for SGA,” Francisco said. “Do as much as you can and have fun doing it. Four years goes by so quickly so enjoy it to the fullest extent. The community I have made here is with not only my friends, but faculty and staff as well. I can turn and see people who care for me everywhere on campus, and I care for them. I am going to miss it so much.”
