Three AP classes, two AP classes in the previous two years, very time consuming after-school activities, and 80+ volunteer hours. 

All of this is done with the hopes of getting into a good college and making her family proud.

For one Prior Lake High School student, doing almost exactly what her sister had done to become successful was a given. 

By taking as many AP classes as she can and doing almost identical after-school activities as her sister once did, Prior Lake High School junior Sofia Suarez knows she is on the right track to get to where she wants to be in both life and college.

Sofia’s sister, Veronica Suarez, attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, graduating in the spring of 2024. 

Sofia has always liked the idea of going to a college in New York, specifically NYU or maybe even Columbia. At the moment though, the main school she is considering is UW, Madison. 

To get into any of these schools, good grades from difficult classes are essential.

Sofia has taken AP Human Geography, AP World History, and is now taking AP United States History, AP Language and Composition, and AP Psychology. 

To take on such advanced classes, an area where you can focus is needed for success. For Sofia, that is mostly her room but also in coffee shops.

“I study the most in my room. I work best studying at my desk, but if I want to romanticize studying in order to make it enjoyable, I’ll go out to a café in St. Paul,” Sofia said.

The idea of getting into her dream college makes her determined to take on this work load and succeed.

“I think if it wasn’t for college, I wouldn’t be doing as much because I know that it’s not good for me, and I know I’m kind of overdoing it,” Sofia said. “That’s why I pick activities that I do like.”

The after-school activities that Sofia is involved in include theater in the fall, speech in the winter, and synchronized swimming in the spring. 

The next fall musical is Little Shop of Horrors, where Sofia plays the role of Audrey. Sofia joined theater in middle school, but she has been singing since fourth grade.

“I loved to sing, and that’s something I always knew I loved. So when we got here, my mom was like ‘okay I’m throwing you in kids community theater’ and I just fell in love with it,” Sofia said.

Sofia continued theater by doing middle school productions and later moved on to the high school productions.

As for synchronized swimming, Sofia first joined in seventh grade. Her sister was a captain, which helped her decide to join, but she also truly wanted to do it.

“I would say her work ethic has gotten a lot better, and she really is a hard worker,” said Hannah Evavold, Sofia’s friend and synchronized swimming teammate. “Synchro was just something she could put on a college application, but now I think she really enjoys it and wants to put effort into it.”

Hannah has done synchronized swimming since she was in eighth grade and has been friends with Sofia since their freshman year.

Various after-school activities and taking tough classes are not the only things Sofia does.

Sofia also has 80+ volunteer hours from various activities through her church. 

“I love helping people, and I love doing little things that make people happy,” Sofia said.