A Dream Fulfilled: Sophia Young Heads to Brazil

by Emma Kingkeo, Reston Letter Intern

South Lakes High's Sophia Young will begin her journey as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Brazil this spring. Photo contributed by Sophia Young.

When Sophia Young learned she had been awarded a U.S. government-sponsored Fulbright to teach English in Brazil, she was overcome with emotion. “It was a dream come true,” she said. “It had been a waiting game for many, many months. When I found out, it was really amazing. I cried, called my mom, and we celebrated. I knew it was going to change my life.”

The prestigious Fulbright Program is one of the world’s most respected international exchange initiatives, designed to foster cross-cultural education and understanding. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA), Young will support instruction at a teacher’s college in Brazil while building skills in cultural diplomacy.

“I think it’s important to focus on mutual understanding and to offer positive representation of the U.S., even if it’s just on a one-on-one level,” she said. “Rebuilding relationships between countries often starts with education.”

Young, 22, grew up bilingual, speaking Spanish and English with her Venezuelan mother and American father. She has also lived abroad in Spain and Switzerland, experiences that shaped her interest in sociolinguistics. She recently graduated from Tulane University with a degree in International Development, Latin American Studies, and Spanish & Portuguese.

This isn’t her first academic trip abroad. During her junior year, while studying in Uruguay, she met a Brazilian student struggling with Spanish. As the two exchanged language help—Young teaching Spanish, the other helping her with Portuguese—Young developed an appreciation for relaxed, low-pressure learning environments.

“It showed me the importance of taking the pressure off language learning,” she said. “You’re basically signing up to make mistakes over and over again, and you have to learn to be OK with that.”

In Brazil, Young will introduce her community project, “Cultural Karaoke,” which encourages English learning through music in an informal setting. The program invites students and community members—both beginners and fluent speakers—to practice English in a fun, low-stakes environment. “I think that’s where a lot of language learning actually happens—in a chill, relaxed space without the pressure of academics,” she said.

Although currently a teacher, Young ultimately hopes to work in education policy, both in the U.S. and internationally. Fulbright, she said, offers not only classroom experience, but also the opportunity for mutual learning, something she finds essential to her teaching philosophy.

“We’re both learners here. We’re both teachers,” she said. “That mindset helps break down structural power imbalances in the classroom. Fulbright ticked all my boxes: long-term exposure and meaningful experience.”

Young also sees the Fulbright as a unique bridge between policy and people. “I want to go into policy that uses the ideas of the people and the resources of big institutions to make those ideas happen,” she said. “Fulbright is government-sponsored, but it’s really about direct contact with local voices. That’s what excites me.”

Young believes she grows the most when pushed outside her comfort zone and looks forward to the daily discoveries Brazil will bring. “The most exciting thing is knowing I’ll step out of my apartment every day and learn something new, even if it’s just how to order a coffee,” she said. “It’s all about stepping into the unknown.”

To those considering a Fulbright, Young encourages applying, even if you're unsure about the outcome. “It’s a lot of work, but the reflection required during the application process leads to personal growth,” she said. “You learn a lot about yourself just by thinking about your experiences and what they’ve taught you.”