Sofía Orozco: The Andean voice in Berlin

When she logs in, the screen fills with different accents and distant time zones. The session is in German. On the other side are students from various countries, representing German schools abroad. Sofía Orozco Salas listens, takes notes and speaks up. She is 18 years old, in Year 12, and was elected representative of the Andean region (Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela) to the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA), the Berlin-based organization that coordinates and oversees German schools worldwide.
She talks about projects, leadership and the future, and something unusual emerges from her words: she wants everything she does to have meaning.

The path to being elected
Her election was a structured process. It all began when having served as her class representative and as a member of the Student Council, she decided to stand as a candidate for regional representative. With the support from teacher Pablo Patiño, the extended essay coordinator, and Paula Álvarez, the Deputy Headteacher, she submitted her application. She had to write a document outlining who she was, what experience she had, what activities she had been involved in, and what she hoped to achieve in the role. Each school had one vote. Working in her favor, as she herself says, was the fact that “I have always been a very active person; I have taken part in leadership roles in various projects”.  Added to this was her intention to strengthen the links between schools.

A role she takes on with a sense of responsibility
The first meeting was held online and in German. As soon as she logged in, she realized the scale of her involvement. “You realize there are people from all over the world, and that’s incredibly powerful, because knowing the language allows you to communicate with other cultures”, For her, as she’s only just starting out, it has been a “very enriching and wonderful” experience. But she knows she can’t romanticize the role. “I know it’s a huge responsibility that I have to fulfil”. And, at the same time, she sees it as a way of serving others, “It’s a way of making an impact, of doing something for others and of helping” For Sofía, it’s important that her actions make a mark.

Leadership that stems from service
Her profile reflects this desire to create something that will stand the test of time. She is a keen sportswoman, she plays football, tennis, volleyball, and competes in athletics. She also loves music and plays the saxophone and piano, as well as singing. She has taken part in the Humboldt Games, the National Games and Model UN events. But when she talks about leadership, she isn’t referring to trophies.
She recalls, for example, a volunteering experience on a recent trip to the Amazon, where she coordinated a team to paint a school. “I led a group of 20 people. I felt totally committed to what we were doing. I feel I have the ability to be a great leader”,
This calling is something she learnt from her parents. “They are wonderful people, whenever they do something, they think of others and their well-being”.  And this led her over time, to understand, that “it is up to you to choose to get involved in social projects. You must be grateful and help others whenever you can” she says.

Thinking about the future with discernment
She wants to study industrial engineering or renewable energy engineering at university. This latter ambition also stemmed from her trip to the Amazon. There, she realized that this type of energy could meet the needs of hundreds of communities where the electricity supply is constantly failing.
Nonetheless, beyond simply pursuing a degree, she wants her studies to be useful, to enable her to leave a legacy and make a difference to others. She intends to apply this same approach to her work as a representative with the ZfA. “For me, it’s not just a qualification to add to my CV. It’s an opportunity to put ideas into practice, create projects and represent others effectively”.

More than just a choice; a stance
When asked which word best describes her, she pauses for a moment and replies: “Drive, enthusiasm, a passion for living and for making the most of life and the opportunities it offers”. She adds verbs such as ‘make the most of’, ‘make an impact’ and ‘connect’. These are actions that explain why out of several proposals, hers won over the other schools in the region. Sofía spoke of purpose, and it was that clarity that made all the difference.

Stories like Sofía’s demonstrate the scope of an education that goes beyond the classroom. If you want your children to grow up in an environment that fosters leadership, critical thinking and a genuine international outlook, find out about our admissions process by clicking here, www.dsmedellin.edu.co and become part of this educational community.