ASU grad plans to bring American studies degree to nursing career
Sofia Atencio. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
From Albuquerque to Antarctica, School of Social Transformation student Sofia Atencio took every opportunity she came across to become a more well-rounded person.
And now that she's graduating, she plans on using every skill she learned at ASU, including those gained through EMT experience, personal care assistance and Women’s Gymnastics Club. Most of all, she plans to use her Bachelor of Arts in American studies to leave a positive impact on the American health care system.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Sofia Atencio since fall 2024,” said Associate Professor Sujey Vega. “She was enrolled in SST 301: Mixed Research Methods for American Communities, where she excelled and impressed me with her commitment to the coursework and critical thinking.”
Editor’s note: Answers have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: My path to my major was a bit indirect. Coming into college, I intended to follow a pre-med pathway and eventually become a physician. I knew that most premed students choose to major in fields like biology or chemistry, but I had always loved the fields of English and history, so I didn’t want to lose those during my college experience. I also knew that I intended to move back home to New Mexico, which is a minority-majority state, to practice medicine after earning my degrees, so it was important to me to feel prepared to serve patients in minority groups as holistically as possible.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: Throughout my time at ASU, I have had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with students who are wildly different from me in all sorts of ways. After interacting with such a wide variety of people, what has surprised me and changed my perspective the most is that no matter how different I imagine myself to be from any individual I encounter, I am always able to connect with/relate to any person I come across in some form or another. This was a powerful realization that I feel has left me more open-minded and empathetic, and it is a realization that I wish everyone in the world had the opportunity to come to.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: After spending my entire childhood and adolescence in Albuquerque, I felt ready to expand my horizons by moving to a new city. Through my research on out-of-state colleges that were not too far out-of-state, I found that ASU seemed to fit all of my needs, as the university is large enough to provide a nearly endless variety of educational opportunities while still fostering small and supportive communities within itself, such as Barrett, The Honors College.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you would give to students?
A: It’s okay to change your mind! You don’t have to know exactly what you want your college experience and your post-grad life to look like right from day one. It is completely normal to realize that your initial plans are no longer right for you, at which point all you have to do is take a deep breath and adjust those plans.
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: One of my favorite spots on campus is the Sun Devil Fitness Complex on the Tempe campus. A good workout at the SDFC has helped me to clear my mind so many times throughout college. I also really appreciate the wide variety of workout classes the SDFC offers to students for free. Attending these classes with friends has been both fun and an extra source of motivation.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduation, I will be continuing my education here at ASU by earning my Master of Science in nursing. I hope to then put that degree to use by becoming a registered nurse.
In terms of potential specialties, I am currently most interested in the fields of hospice nursing and public health nursing. Regardless of what specialty I end up in, I know that my American studies degree will be indispensable in helping me to provide all of my patients with culturally sensitive care.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: While I am aware that this issue is far too complex to fully solve with just $40 million, I would use this money to continue efforts to improve access to health care in America, especially preventative care and palliative care.
So many passionate health care providers and innovative medical therapies currently exist, but there are a multitude of barriers that prevent patients from ever reaching them. Deep-rooted structural flaws in the American health care system are ultimately to blame for these issues, which means that there are no quick fixes to these problems.
However, grassroots efforts within individual communities, such as local nonprofit health clinics or free health education sessions held in schools or churches, can go a long way in improving the quality of life of thousands of Americans — so these are the organizations that I would put my $40 million towards.
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