We’re thrilled to introduce Sophie K. from Evanston, IL in our STF Leader Spotlight, where we celebrate the inspiring individuals driving change in the STF community. Please continue reading to get to know Sophie and her passion for human rights!
Name: Sophie K.
School: Evanston Township HS
Graduation Year: 2025
STF Title: Co-Leader
STF Member Since: Aug. 2024
STF Team: What made you want to become an STF leader?
Sophie: I was trying to look for a club that targeted my interest in human rights after taking my civics class and being involved in different community service events. Working with a global organization like HRW also added to my interest in joining. I wanted an outlet to be able to spread my voice about certain issues, organize events, and take on a leadership role.
STF Team: What’s it like launching a new STF chapter with people outside your friend group?
Sophie: Going into this year, navigating friendships was hard for me because I transferred from a completely different city. I went to a school of 100 people to now thousands of people. A club like STF has allowed me to work with people I have not talked to before. I already feel friendships building with leadership members and hope to continue building that.
STF Team: What leadership skills are you hoping to develop at STF?
Sophie: I want to gain confidence to advocate for others in front of my peers. Oftentimes I make it a point to speak up with people I already know, but I want to be able to publicly speak in front of peers that I don’t know well. I want to find that confidence to speak up for myself and to others to a large group of people.
I also want to build strong relationships with student committees/clubs so we can host large events, engage members, and get more involved in STF.
STF Team: Which Action Plan(s) do you want to tackle?
Sophie: I want every student to have a space to share their views, opinions, and spread awareness for human rights. We are starting with the Declaring Our Human Rights Action Plan to educate others, specifically people that may not be thinking about human rights. I am also very passionate about protecting the unhoused. I am involved with service projects that are helping the Appalachia community in Kentucky recover from the most recent hurricane and that’s when the housing crisis became so much more clear to me, and the Protect the Unhoused Action Plan easily connects to that.
STF Team: Is there anything that you want people to know about you?
Sophie: I want people to know that navigating these types of spaces can be difficult, but being a welcoming leader is really important. In previous clubs I joined, I wish there was a leader that welcomed others that were going through the same thing as me when I was a new student.