Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Raquel Guzman.
Sophia Raquel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The neuroplasticity of our brains gave me the courage to pursue neuroscience. Along the way, I have been blessed by supportive individuals, encouraging the collaboration of my two deeply rooted passions: art and science. This summer, I look forward to further connecting the two interests.
Currently, I am a co-lead investigator on an independent research study. This study, the Psychology of Art, aims to further understand the effect of environments on attention and cognition. Excitingly, my team and I will be presenting our findings at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) conference in April in Frisco. Our data collection concludes in February 2020 and has been ongoing since September 2019.
Before beginning research, my time was spent passionately pursuing portrait photography and utilizing abstract art as creative outlets. Empowering other young women to see the very best of themselves is my soul mission with portrait photography. When in a photography session, my goal is to translate the beauty I see in my subject (and my lens) into something tangible that they can then feel empowered by.
One photography highlight during my time at St. Edward’s University was having one of my photos be the cover for the campus fashion magazine. In 2018-2019 I photographed a total of four concepts over two publications, No. 6 and No. 7: Plastic Party, Suspiria, Camp, and Bugs. All of these concepts provided a priceless opportunity to expand my creative collaboration with other brilliant artists.
My inspiration has drawn from Platon Yurich and his expertise in capturing the essence of personality in his portraits. I also had the blessing of hearing Annie Leibovitz speak back in 2017 in Austin. Both of these individuals have significantly impacted my relationship with the camera.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The path that led me to neuroscience goes back to a head injury from soccer my junior year of high school, learning about the functions of the neurons during mTBI rehabilitation opened my eyes to the physiological mechanisms that allow us to heal from injury.
I began playing soccer during my first year of high school. My childhood roots lived in dance and less in athletic sports teams. Beginning a new sport with no prior knowledge or experience was adversity I set up for myself. Though I was initially cut from the team in 2013, I pushed myself to improve the speed of my mile time and I challenged myself to make the team the next year.
My soccer journey of perseverance isn’t one I speak about often, though, in retrospect, the experience has contributed heavily to my inner drive today. A transformative moment was when I saw my name on the team roster my second year in high school. Along the journey, I learned that believing in yourself is a significant part of achieving your goals. I wouldn’t have succeeded if I hadn’t been finding silver linings and remaining positive.
If I could go back in time and share wisdom with my past self, the words spoken would be those of reassurance. Many women, like myself, feel there is an expectation to make something of themselves.
At the end of the day, I want to make the most of the opportunities that are available. It’s easy to feel down about not meeting expectations, either from yourself or others. I have learned though, raising your confidence is possible by setting attainable goals and achieving them. Put in the effort, consistently and accurately, six months later, you may be living a very different type of life (had you chosen not to make any additional effort at all). Neuroplasticity is incredibly real, take advantage of that fact.
Teach yourself something and find joy in it!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Through empowering young women is an important element of my portraiture, I feel honored to have been able to connect with another community drastically different than what I was used to. My summer position as a labor & delivery/newborn portrait photographer provided a tremendous amount of perspective and respect for the medical community. Preserving the precious and timeless first moments of life was an opportunity I treasure dearly. Interacting with new moms and dads on a regular basis was humbling and inspiring.
My experience being a photographer in the operation and delivery room was analogous to “being a fly” on the wall. I stayed out of the physician’s way and only captured the sweet moments families wanted to remember. It was an honor to see the family reactions when showcasing the portraits. Moments are fleeting, photography is lasting.
In May, I will graduate from St. Edward’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience. My future plans include supporting learning development with individuals who feel limited by their cognitive capacity. Neuroplasticity allows the human brain to essentially train itself to attain mastery in a skill (through consistency and accuracy). We are all born with differing abilities, though these abilities are certainly not set in stone. Abilities and talents must be nurtured.
Beginning in June, I will work directly with students and help them work their learning development program. The program is based on the Structure of Intellect (SOI) program, developed by Dr. Mary and Robert Meeker in the 1980s. This program helps identify weak and strong points in a student’s intellectual abilities through a baseline assessment. Students work on an individualized program, utilizing their strengths while improving their weaknesses.
There are individuals who may have been labeled in their elementary years as ‘learning disabled’ or ‘incapable of learning’. The labels may be of aid in the short term, however, with time and accommodations they can also become limiting. It is not always the case of ‘they can’t read’, but more likely that the student is lacking the underlying ability to distinguish visibly one character of the alphabet from another. This is an ability that the brain can be trained for. I look forward to aiding students reach their highest potential after completing my degree.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Leadership positions are a wonderful place for women to begin sharing their voice. Developing experience working interpersonally with others who share similar interests goes a long way regarding helping achieve goals.
The truth is, I credit my leadership development heavily to experiences I have had with other empowering female groups. At twelve years old, I began attending summer camp at Rocky River Ranch (Wimberley). The eight summers spent with other young ambitious ladies opened the door to self-expression and independent self-development. Lasting life-skills such as decision making and time-management were learned on the campground, a welcoming community that was supportive and non-judgmental.
Additionally, in high school I grew professional skills through a mother-daughter philanthropy group, National Charity League (NCL). Providing service to others can be fun and doing activities with this female group was empowering.
Opportunities may seem challenging to obtain if they aren’t plastered right in front of you. My biggest encouragement to other aspiring female leaders is to seek out people who share your passion. Communicate with those with shared interest and genuinely learn from them. Over the long term, as connections and networking continue, doors sometimes open at the most unexpected times.
Contact Info:
- Email: sraquelportraits@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sophiaraquelportraits
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/thoughtsbysophi
- Other: www.instragram.com/artbysr
Image Credit:
Portraits are featuring: Michelle Clarke (IG: @MichelleClarke), Natalie Nichols (IG: @natalienichols), Dominique Kirven (IG: @who_domrenee), and Emery Dunn (IG: @emerydunn_); Portraits of Sophia Raquel are taken by: Briley Claire Bove (IG: @In_Claire_Focus)
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