Carolina Forest High School 
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 
International Business and Finance 

My time at UofSC has given me the most incredible experiences that I would not trade for the world and the best friends that I could ever imagine.  

Impactful experience: 
Thinking back on my past four years at UofSC, I am so grateful for the professors I’ve had, the friendships I’ve made, and the knowledge I’ve gained. One of my most impactful experiences occurred during my study abroad in Gothenburg, Sweden when I had to adapt to a completely new environment. I had never been out of the country before, and I did not know anybody else in Sweden. This experience taught me how to adapt to new teaching styles, how to be independent, and how to work with students and professors from all over the world.  

Enjoy most as a TS: 
What I have enjoyed most about being a Top Scholar is the community that it has fostered. From first meeting my peers at the Scholar Weekend, to living together in the Honors dorm, to our final dinner together and all of the events in between. It has been so great to have such a tight-knit community on such a large campus. 

Story: 
UofSC has given me with countless memories, both on and off of campus. One of my greatest experiences was my study abroad trip to Gothenburg, Sweden. Being the first and only UofSC student to study at the University of Gothenburg was definitely daunting. I had never been out of the country before and I knew nobody else going to Sweden. I had no clue what to expect, but I was incredibly excited. While abroad, I traveled to beautiful places, met amazing people, and learned so much. Perhaps my favorite memory from abroad was traveling above the Arctic Circle to the Swedish Lapland where I drove a snowmobile, rode on a dogsled, swam in the Arctic Ocean, and saw the Northern Lights.  

Post-graduate plans:
After graduation, Sophia will begin her career with Wells Fargo as a financial analyst. She will join the Retail Finance Division in Boston, MA this summer. She is very excited to jump start her career, learn different areas of finance, and explore a new city.  

Career goals/professional aspirations: 
I am eager to take the knowledge and skills that I have learned from UofSC and apply them to the real world. I will start my career in a two-year finance program with TE Connectivity. In this program, I will work in four different roles across three different cities. Through this, I hope to find the area of finance that I enjoy the most and continue with this career path.