Always on the Move: Sofia Mesa Finds Balance Through Activity

Always on the go, Sofia Mesa, ’28, fills her days with gymnastics and dance by finding energy and focus through every challenge she takes on

By: Isabella Sutherland

Sofia Mesa, ’28, is a very involved student, she has been in dance for two years, doing gymnastics for 11 years, golf for 3 years, and is involved in many clubs.

Mesa got involved with so much because she always wants to be on the move doing something.

She says, “I never really like to just sit down and relax. I feel like I always need to be on the move, because it’s a way of making me feel happy. I guess doing a lot of the activities that I do just like sort of helps my brain and calms me down.”

She has always loved doing gymnastics and even if gymnastics is stressful it always relaxes her.

When asked who her biggest inspiration is she says, “I would definitely say Simone Biles. She’s always been an inspiration for me, especially in gymnastics. Always watching her push, pushes me to be the best gymnast I can be.”

Mesa is inspired by Simone Biles because as a gymnast herself it is always inspiring to have someone to look up to.

Her mother, Rosie Mesa thinks the inspiration just comes from Sofia’s own self, she says, “I believe her inspiration comes from herself. She is a competitive person and always strives to do better than the  previous gymnastics meet. I also believe a big inspiration is the people who doubt her abilities, skills and the competitor that she is, the naysayers definitely inspire and push her to do her best.”

Mesa can’t do it all on her own as she has the help of many others that care for her and love her to the fullest, the support from everyone she cares about makes her an even happier person overall.

Her father, Christopher Mesa says, “Sofia has always been full of endless energy, when she was little she was always bouncing around, dancing, flipping and twirling around with endless energy to do everything. She has always had the sweetest purest heart and maintains that today.”

Mr. Mesa is “especially proud of her” for being able to maintain her busy schedule and still maintain good grades, but he is proud of the girl that she has become.

Mr. Mesa says, “Being involved in so many sports and activities has taught her very important life lessons. Gymnastics has taught her perseverance, determination, grit and to have a great work ethic. She has been shaped into an amazing young woman who is organized, hard working, a great leader, and a teammate.”

Watching her perform and be the person that she is has made both her mother and father happy that she always outdoes herself, but they enjoy watching her do all the things that she loves to do.

Her parents are not the only ones that are proud of her accomplishments, as the rest of her people that are close to her have only good things to say about her also.

Andrea Hagans, her gymnastics teacher says, “She leads by example through her consistency and effort. Younger gymnasts look up to her because she’s always the first to help others. She sets a tone of teamwork and respect in the gym.”

Hagans believes that if Mesa continues on with gymnastics, she has the potential to keep advancing with her determination and her “natural athletic ability.”

Hagans says, “I believe she could reach higher competitive levels and even take on leadership roles with her team.”

Mesa’s brother, Roman Mesa, ’27, says, “I like how hard she works, how she never gives up anything, she always keeps going…[she’s] a very hard working and intelligent person.”

He admires her and all of the things that she does at school and after-school, “She’s very hard working, because after school, she practices for four hours for gymnastics, and then also that with golf too.”

She may be small, but she is a strong person, mentally and physically, as Ana Romo, ELD and AVID teacher says, “She’s so tiny, but she’s strong willed. If she wants to be heard she’s going to be heard. So, I really like that about her, that she has the initiative to go out and get what she wants.”

Romo has a close relationship with Mesa and she sees a bright future ahead of her, she says, “[In the future] I don’t see her slowing down or stopping at all. I know she wants to do more. She wants to take COS classes, she knows they’re challenging , but she’s up for the challenge…She’s looking into becoming a teacher. I know that if she does decide to go into teaching she’ll be amazing”

She is not always able to do everything for the day, as things stop her and block her mind as she tries to do all the things overflowing her plate.

Mesa says her biggest challenge she faces is, “Mental blocks, especially in gymnastics. It’s always really difficult to get over something that you’re scared of, but once you do it, it feels like such a relief that I accomplished that.”

Overall, Sofia Mesa is a very involved student with lots to do, but has a great heart about it all and enjoys everything in her life that she does.

She says, “I always feel very expressive, especially when I’m dancing or doing gymnastics, it always makes me feel like me and express who I am.”

Tags: dance, features, gymnastics, Mrs.romo, profile, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood rangers, redwood sports, rhs, Roman mesa, Sofia, sofiamesa, visalia ca