Sofia Panarella has lived in many places, from Oregon to Montana to Rhode Island, but regardless of where she lives, she is, and always will be, a Native Hawai’ian. Moving from place to place opened Panarella’s eyes to the differences in living conditions and services available to individuals across the United States. It was these differences that pushed her to pursue a dream she didn’t even realize she had: to obtain a degree in economics and public health in order to make real change for real people, wherever she may be.
Born in Portland, Ore., Panarella lived there for the first decade of her life. While she was in middle school, Panarella’s parents decided they wanted to be closer to their family back in Montana. The summer before seventh grade, Panarella and her family made the move to Missoula, Mont., a town of around 70,000 people.
Living in a remote town has its challenges, as Panarella found out when she attended Hellgate High School. While Panarella’s parents and grandparents had always been big proponents of getting an education and supported her desire to go to college, many in her high school did not feel the same way. What’s more, some were not always respectful of her Native identity. Panarella tried to make the best of it, seeking out allies, striking up conversations with those ignorant of her Native background to help them understand her culture, and never losing sight of her goal to further her education. With the help of her parents, Panarella learned how to navigate the college application process. “I was so fortunate to have parents who guided me through standardized testing, essay writing, and finally picking a school that is right for me,” she says. Panarella’s hard work and dedication paid off, and she was accepted to Brown University for the fall of 2016.
Unfortunately, many in Panarella’s community did not see her acceptance to an Ivy League school as the amazing accomplishment that it was. “A Native kid trying to do something out of the ordinary is not always well received by the community,” she says. “People said hurtful, demeaning things with regard to my Native identity and the stereotypes that are sometimes associated with being Native.”
Thankfully, Panarella was able to leave the negativity behind as she made her way to Providence, R.I., for her freshman year. “College has been the most amazing thing I have done in my life so far. I feel closer to my friends, more interested in my studies, and prouder of my accomplishments than ever before,” she says.
But Panarella’s first year at Brown was not always easy. She constantly felt as if she wasn’t capable or deserving of being there, and that her education from her small public high school was inferior to the one received by her peers at their fancy private schools. “In those moments of doubt, I like to remind myself that regardless of anything that happened in the past, I can succeed,” she says. “And I can do more than succeed — I can thrive!”
With a new positive attitude, Panarella made friends, began playing on the Brown Club Tennis team, joined a sorority, and threw herself into her studies, especially economics. “I love the way it allows my brain to think scientifically and makes me feel capable of tackling real-world problems,” she says. And while Panarella has always been interested in public health, it wasn’t until a friend convinced her to take a class in it at Brown that she began to see the field as more than a passing interest and decided to make public health her second major. “I’m intellectually curious, especially when it comes to serving my community,” she explains. “And public health allows me to be involved in the conversation around health care in the United States and other countries.” Panarella has also found support from the Native community, including AISES, which she has been a part of since 2015. She was fortunate enough to be the recipient of an AISES Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Foundation Scholarship. Available to high school seniors in 13 states looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, the BNSF Foundation Scholarship provides financial aid for four years. Easing Panarella’s financial burden went a long way toward helping her achieve her goal of attending Brown.
Panarella’s connection to her Native culture and background run deep. Her maternal grandmother was born and raised in Hawai’i, and Panarella spends her summers working at the Native Hawai’ian Heritage Center in Honoka’a. There she helps set up,
In moments of doubt, I like to remind myself that regardless of anything that happened in the past, I can succeed.
maintain, and update archive collections on the history of Native Hawai’ians on the Hamakua Coast. “The internship teaches me the history of my ancestors firsthand,” she says, and allows her to remember where she came from.
Always keeping in mind her ancestry, and both her own struggles and those of her people, has helped Panarella succeed in ways she never dreamed of. And while the path she has chosen is not an easy one, Panarella is not giving up. “I tell myself that if I want something, I will not stop working until I put myself in the position to achieve it, whatever that goal may be,” she says. “I believe that willing yourself to success is the very best way to make sure that you maximize your potential.”
Panarella is still working out how to best maximize her own potential, as she has three more years at Brown and is considering going on to graduate school. Most important, Panarella wants others like her to know that anything is possible. “Everyone can go to college, but it won’t happen if you just hope for it to happen,” she says. “Just like every student at a small-town public high school, I had the chance to do something extraordinary and I am not going to let it slip from my fingers.” And, says Panarella, neither should anyone else.
