Sophia Kaushik, peer reviewer

Sophia Kaushik is a high school student from California who is passionate about literature and writing. Sophia has been writing poetry and short fiction for as long as she can remember and has had her work published in a number of literary journals. She is a book review
writer for her school newspaper and a founder of her school’s poetry club. Outside of school, Sophia studies classical voice and sings at recitals, charitable concerts, and competitions. She also volunteers as a middle-school tutor in reading comprehension and math. Sophia is a strong believer in the power of the written word and the endless possibilities that come with literacy.

Participating in the Sociality of the Story Refugee Project as a peer reviewer has been a transformative experience for Sophia, as it has reinforced her belief that storytelling has no boundaries and can unite us in our shared human experiences. Sophia’s favorite part of
participating in the project has been meeting and getting to know Blandine Mulenga through the peer review process and during the final interview. Sophia feels privileged to have had the opportunity to help Blandine tell her story.