Sophia Backman, a senior international management and Spanish major, has spent half her college career traveling around the world. Her experiences have brought her into contact with many cultures and has encouraged her to improve the world around her.

Sophia’s version of first-year orientation consisted of meeting students speaking a variety of languages all from very different backgrounds on her flight to Franklin College, an international school in Switzerland.

“It was great because we still had a chance to form this amazing bond over the long flight before we even got to the school,” Sophia said.

At this school, students aren’t just encouraged to travel and explore the world around them; they are required to do so. During her year studying in Switzerland, Sophia traveled all over Europe. Her most memorable trips were to Sicily and Yugoslavia studying the culture, history and political problems disrupting these areas.

It was during one of these trips that Sophia decided on a major that had an international component.

“In Seravejo, Yugoslavia our tour guide took us to the front lines of the war where the walls still had bullet holes in them and the atmosphere was so gray, unresolved and depressing. He then told us a story from his childhood where he was held at gunpoint by the enemy that had invaded his neighborhood. The thought of this shocked me, and I realized that I wanted to understand the lifestyles of people that are very different from me and where they’ve been,” Sophia said.

Sophia continued her education at Gustavus for her sophomore year, choosing it for its strong academics, a variety of organizations and the liberal arts education process.

“Everyone I worked with to make the transfer was so welcoming and helpful that I knew I had made the right decision,” Sophia said.

Although she enjoyed her second year at Gustavus, Sophia soon became restless and craved another opportunity abroad. Her goals for her year-long studying on the island of Palma de Mallorca right off the coast of Barcelona, Spain included becoming comfortable and confident with the Spanish language and also becoming immersed in the Spanish culture and learning from it.

Sophia feels as though she accomplished those goals along with undertaking other responsibilities like living alone for the first time and interviewing in Spanish. The language and cultural barriers made everyday tasks more challenging but rewarding once realized.

Back at Gustavus this year for her senior year, Sophia is a very active student as a member of the Delta Phi Omega Sorority, the Model UN and Amigos. She hopes to explore more of what Gustavus has to offer throughout her last year here.

“I want to explore what I have an interest in and have fun with it,” Sophia said.

More traveling, especially in Europe, is in store for Sophia’s future so that she can use her past experiences in business and society.

“My greatest goal for the future is to stay in contact with those [who] I’ve met from all over the world that I don’t want to forget, even as I travel,” Sophia said.

Sophia always keeps her mother’s words in mind: “Do your best; no one is going to do it for you. If you want to do something, be the best at it. Don’t be passive; be aggressive to accomplish your goals.”

She always has and always will remind herself of these very important words through every endeavor. They have encouraged her thus far in the path of success and always will.

Sophia has advice for underclassmen: “If you can, study abroad in college. Take advantage of every opportunity to travel—even if it is just three weeks. Very few people have a bad time, and those that do still don’t usually regret going because they still came back having learned a valuable lesson about the world and themselves.”

This extraordinary senior has taken advantage of every opportunity and has fully immersed herself in her endeavors—a strong accomplishment to have achieved at such a young age.