Meet the beautiful, vivacious, independent, adventurous, positive, confident, meticulous, and loyal.. Class of 2021 senior from Midland High School, Sophia Shanklin!!   After high school, Soph plans on attending Bradley University to major in Chemistry/PreMed with the goal of becoming a PA and specializing in OB/GYN.  In school, she has been very active and participated in Volleyball, Cheer, Baseball Manager, Student Council, green and black pack, and National Honor Society.

“My favorite teacher is my history teacher Mr. Williams, although I strongly dislike history itself.. he makes it easy to learn, fun to talk about, and is an overall organized and supportive teacher that is always pushing me to be a better student!
My favorite class is chemistry, I took it my sophomore year but it was my absolute fav!! It was my favorite material to learn, I understood it, it pushed me and always held my interest! My favorite school event to attend would be our basketball games because there is always a crowd of people and I love cheering for them and for our boys, I love the atmosphere of school spirit because with a small school we don’t always get a ton of it!”

“Outside of school, I am currently Vice President of a branch of The Front Nine Foundation called The Future Faces, we do many events for this nonprofit throughout the year, I also volunteer for the Lacon Food Pantry, and I work as a lifeguard for a gated community between Varna and Lacon.”

Sophia’s hobbies include shopping, dressing up, spending time with family, working out, going on road trips especially with my mom, and spending time with my friends!

Advice to incoming freshman: The advice I would give freshman is to try EVERYTHING! and do stuff! being involved with things gives you the ability to make so many friends and good memories! and for the girls.. remember BOOKS OVER BOYS!

Three things on my bucket list include:1. Travel the world and experience many cultures after learning about them in college 2. Staying in an old time castle for a week 3. Scuba dive in the Great Reef

The best thing about my parents is that no matter what I know they will always love me and support me with any journey I choose and how they always have my greatest interest. My mom comforts me always and knows everything about me, I am forever grateful and thankful for her and words to not describe. My dad has always and. forever will protect me and push me to be the best I can be. He provides for me and continues too make me laugh everyday even when he gets on my nerves. I love them unconditionally and will always do my best to make them proud everyday!

My favorite family trip was to Disney World and the Gulf of Mexico, it was ab a 2 week long trip and it was our last big family trip with just the 5 of us before my siblings got significant others so I’l always remember it!

My favorite childhood memory is always going on long weekend trips to wherever my brother was playing basketball and playing in the bleachers with Luke, my brother best friends little brother that was also my age

My hero is my mom because she’s hard working, positive, extremely loving and is always kind to people even when they may not deserve it or are mean to her.

I love all rap, pop, and country! My go-to by myself is rap lol mostly DaBaby, Juice World, Lil Tecca, Boogie w da Hoodie, and definitely jam to some Cardi B! my go to dancing songs are all pop songs and then my lovey dove songs are country!

The most unusual thing I have ever eaten is buffalo.  The most daring thing I have ever done is rock climbed!

My favorite family recipe is my grandma Kris’s Snow Creams that my mom always makes me for my birthday! its creamy dessert with raspberry sauce onto! sooooo good!!!  If I could eat only one meal for the rest of my life, it would be baked chicken, smashed potatoes, and sautéed mushrooms and onions.

Some of my nicknames include Soph, Sophie, and Monkey!

My favorite holiday is Christmas. Every year on Christmas Eve my whole family dresses up nicely and goes to my Aunt Karens where more family comes and we do dinner and little gifts by every age group and always watch Christmas Vacation while talking and having fun! Then usually at 9 or 10 most of us go to the towns Christmas Eve service. After the service my immediate family goes back to my house and we open one gift, which is always or pajamas to wear that night! Now that my siblings are moved out, it is just me and my parents but we’ve always ended the night with the movie Shrek the Halls!

My favorite sport to watch is college basketball during March Madness. My favorite sport to play is volleyball! I love all rap, pop, and country! My go-to by myself is rap lol mostly DaBaby, Juice World, Lil Tecca, Boogie w da Hoodie, and definitely jam to some Cardi B! my go to dancing songs are all pop songs and then my lovey dove songs are country!  A moment I am most proud of is receiving the Presidential Scholarship from Bradley when I was accepted in October!!