With an outstanding passion for art, Sophia Assis, a student at Charter, has showcased talents that have given her the honor of being nominated for the Silver Knights award. After years of committing hours to paintings and mural designing, her efforts have given her the opportunity to give back to the community by doing what she loves most.
The Silver Knights award which aims to recognize the academic excellence and community service projects of outstanding senior leaders was not something Sophia Assis was planning on initially. It wasn’t until PPCHS Spanish and Marketing teacher Mrs. Ferrer encouraged her to apply. “I applied because of Mrs. Ferrer. She thought that the Jag Shack mural had potential, so she definitely pointed me in that direction and helped me decide to apply.”
After recognizing her accomplishments throughout the years and realizing that most of her volunteer work was in some way related to art, she decided to take the leap of faith and apply. She emailed PPCHS Silver Knight’s coordinator Ms. Carbone with a letter of intent explaining why she would be best suitable as the selected nominee.
After submitting the letter, she patiently waited for Ms. Carbone to select one nominee per category and once she received the confirmation email, she was thrilled. “I was so excited. It’s really special that I was selected. I’m really grateful and it’s nice to see all of my work paying off and being able to qualify for such a prestigious award.”
Assis’s passion for the arts has allowed her to give back to the community in so many ways from volunteering to painting murals that inspire and color the world around her. “Art is pretty much who I am. It’s like everything I’ve ever been since I was little. I love to draw, and I love experimenting. It’s so satisfying to see my progression and the visual improvement,” she wholeheartedly explains.
Although painting the Media Annex mural in the student lounge as a junior, the Jag Shack mural in particular has been one of Assis’s biggest service projects. After carefully sketching out her design, staying after school two to three times a week for two hours became a routine for her. Assis worked diligently to make her visions come to life and after seven months, a ten-foot-tall mural stood proudly in the PPCHS cafeteria.
After 18 years of watching art tutorials, painting, and teaching herself how to draw, Assis has one piece of advice she has held close to her heart as an artist herself. “Go after things. Art is so vast. There’s so much you can do with art, truly there’s no limit. Use that to your advantage and put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to show your artwork and your abilities.”
As Assis finishes her last semester as a high school senior at PPCHS, she is enthusiastic about the future that is waiting for her beyond Charter’s doors. With the goal of majoring in architecture at the University of Florida, Assis will continue to hold tight to her passion for art. Being remembered as a talented artist and a passionate student, she continues to shine a light on Jag’s pride as a Silver Knight nominee.
