CBC Hispanic Heritage Student Spotlight: Sofia Duran Montoya

CBC is Celebrating and Honoring Hispanic Heritage! We now highlight Sofia Duran Montoya!

"Hello! My name is Sofia Duran Montoya, and I am a sophomore majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Arizona. I am from Cali, Colombia, and I am proud to bring my Colombian identity, language, and culture with me as I pursue science internationally. 

This year, I am beginning my undergraduate research experience in the Pyun Research Group, where I will explore advanced polymeric, hybrid organic–inorganic, and nanocomposite materials. The group’s research includes materials for photonics, clean-energy catalysis, and optical technologies. I am a Preceptor for Dr. Sanov’s CHEM 181: Majors General Chemistry and Dr. Huxter’s CHEM 195A: Chemistry & Biochemistry First-Year Colloquium I. Through these roles, I will support Chemistry and Biochemistry majors as they build a strong foundation in general chemistry. 

Alongside my classes and research, I am currently seeking a chemistry- or research-related internship for next summer. I am particularly interested in inorganic and physical chemistry because these fields examine the relationships between composition, structure, energy, and reactivity at the atomic and molecular levels. I would like to work in an industry where I can apply this interest to innovative chemical research and development. In the longer term, I hope to pursue graduate study in chemistry and possibly earn a Ph.D. 

The goals I have for my future are deeply shaped by the values my family has taught me, such as resilience, discipline, gratitude, and commitment to others. These values guide me every day and remind me that leaving home does not mean leaving behind who we are. Rather, we carry home within us, in our language, our memories, our values, and the way we care for people. 

This summer, I was able to return to Cali and experience one of the most difficult moments in my city’s recent history. On August 10, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook my country, and my hometown, Cali, was among the cities most deeply affected. The disaster left 154 people dead and caused the collapse of 24 buildings and other structures. One month later, more than 99,000 tons of debris had been removed from affected areas across the city. 

At 7:34 a.m., the moment the earthquake began, the ordinary rhythm of life suddenly broke apart. Those were the longest seconds of my life. Fear and uncertainty brought me to my knees in prayer. My family was safe in front of me, but I could not stop thinking about the families across my city who had been sharing an ordinary moment together when, in a matter of seconds, safety seemed to disappear. Life had become fragile. 

In the days that followed, Cali showed the strength of its people. Civilians, firefighters, police officers, rescue teams, paramedics, and volunteers came together with one shared purpose: to protect life. Help also arrived from other cities and countries, but what stayed with me most was the empathy of my fellow Caleños; the way they recognized another person’s pain as their own and responded with generosity, courage, and care. 

My father often shares a phrase attributed to Saint Augustine: “Do not seek what to give; give yourself.” To me, this is the meaning of solidarity. Giving is important, but giving oneself—one’s time, courage, hands, and heart—is something deeper. That is what I saw in Cali, and it is the lesson I hope to bring into my work as a student, researcher, and future scientist. 

I miss my city, my culture, my friends, my food, and the vibrant energy of home. Yet the opportunities I have at the University of Arizona motivate me to work hard, make my family proud, and represent my community well. I hope to touch hearts, challenge assumptions, and bring the perspective of my community into spaces where it has not always been heard. If my story helps even one young person believe that they belong at the table, then I will have carried something meaningful from Cali with me. 

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! I celebrate it proudly as a Colombian and a Hispanic!" ~ Sofia