Sophia Zaragoza
Pittsburgh,PA
Summary
Dynamic and bilingual student with a strong background in organizational leadership and multiple forms of the arts. By integrating my disciplined background in classical music with a proactive approach to community mentorship, I create structures yet creative solutions to social challenges. Seeking to leverage international study to develop my cross-cultural competencies further and apply global architectural perspectives to my future academic and professional career.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Classroom Volunteer
La Casa De Amistad
01.2026 - Current
- Provided general assistance to small groups of 5-6 students a day by guiding through workbooks and helping them in reading
- Demonstrated different educational, behavioral and physical skills.
- Assist and tutor in various educational programs that cater to children and students of different age groups
- Offer guidance, encouragement, and academic support to students of all ages with their reading, writing, math, and other foundational skills through a combination of English and Spanish.
Server
Olive Garden
12.2025 - Current
- Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers, managing over 50 guests per shift.
- Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
- Explained menu items and suggested appropriate options for food allergy concerns.
- Bussed and reset tables to keep dining room and work areas clean.
- Maintained order efficiency and accuracy through clear communication with kitchen staff, earning numerous recommendations from satisfied customers.
Architecture Student Mentor
NOMA Pittsburgh
08.2025 - Current
- Being an alumni for project pipeline, I guide 6-12th graders at Carnegie Mellon’s school of Architecture through hands-on projects, teaching them about design, construction, and professional practices.
- Provide constructive feedback, sharing my personal experiences, and helping students build confidence and develop key skills like critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Counseled students individually and in group sessions to help promote motivation for architecture and related fields of design.
- Assisted students in exploring and selecting career paths.
Busser
Olive Garden
06.2024 - Current
- Worked quickly, communicated with other staff and always looked for better ways of completing tasks to improve productivity and keep tables ready for incoming guests.
- Worked well in diverse team settings by partnering with others to complete tasks swiftly and efficiently.
- Developed excellent relationships with managers and fellow team members to support team success and positive work environment.
- Organized and cleaned assigned sections by sanitizing and cleaning table, counter, and kitchen surfaces.
Front of House Employee
Chick-Fil-A
06.2023 - Current
- Trained new staff in front-of-house procedures, customer relations, and cleaning.
- Helped guests at tables when in need of assistance.
- Reset tables between guests by restocking low items and wiping down surfaces.
- Established welcoming atmosphere by greeting each guest warmly.
- Maintained tidy and organized work area to preserve aesthetics and support cleanliness and quality standards.
- Accurately operated cash register to process over 100 customer payments per shift.
- Replenished condiments, beverages, and supplies while maintaining cleanliness of service areas.
Creative Writing Club Founder
Trinity High School
09.2024 - 06.2025
- Recruited over 30 active members through targeted school-wide promotions and presentations
- Designed and implemented a weekly curriculum featuring diverse writing prompts, literary analysis, and skill-building exercises pertaining to different themes for each month
- Led class writing workshops, group activities relating to writing with opportunities for anonymous feedback
- Established a peer-review system that fostered a culture of supportive, constructive feedback, helping members improve narrative structures
Crochet Club Founder
Trinity High School
05.2023 - 06.2025
- Drafted the official club charter and secured faculty sponsorship to establish the organization as a permanent club in the school's extracurriculars
- Developed a structured yarn arts curriculum, guiding 30+ students from basic stitches to advanced pattern reading in English and Spanish
- Managed club inventory and logistics, including the organization of donated materials and the allocation of supplies for projects
- Sold over $300 within the school for a spring flower fundraiser to earn funds for winter hat drive yarn
- Organized winter hat drive for students to contribute to our community while also learning a new skill, over 50 handmade items donated to local shelter
Orchestral Violinist - Student Side-by-Side
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
02.2024 - 04.2025
- Watched conductor closely for cues and directions.
- Learned numerous contemporary and classical pieces.
- Played pieces with intense emotion using varying movements and facial expressions to move audience.
- Selected through a competitive application process to rehearse and perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025.
- Rehearsed once every week for 3 months in Heinz Hall, collaborating with other students around the Pittsburgh Area and sectionals led by PSO members to put together pieces and learn new techniques.
- Demonstrated advanced musical technique and professional discipline while collaborating with world-class musicians and conductors.
Education
Bachelors of Architecture - Architecture
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN05-2030
High School Diploma -
Trinity High School
Washington, PA06-2025
Stamps Pre-College - Drawing
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor10-2024
Skills
- Organizational Leadership
- Bilingual Communication
- Public Speaking
- Advanced Musical Performance
- Budgeting & Fundraising
- Design & Architectural Fundamentals
- Cultural Competency
- Interdisciplinary Thinker
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
English
Native or Bilingual
Japanese
Elementary
Awards
High School Valedictorian June 2025
Music Department Award of Excellence May 2025
National School Orchestra Award May 2025
Chick-Fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship Apr 2025
Nominated for National Employee of the Year at Olive Garden May 2025
Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship Dec 2024
Questbridge National College Match Scholar Dec 2024
AP Scholar with Distinction Jul 2024
Questbridge College Prep Scholar Apr 2024
National Hispanic Recognition Award Jun 2023
Timeline
Classroom Volunteer
La Casa De Amistad
01.2026 - Current
Server
Olive Garden
12.2025 - Current
Architecture Student Mentor
NOMA Pittsburgh
08.2025 - Current
Creative Writing Club Founder
Trinity High School
09.2024 - 06.2025
Busser
Olive Garden
06.2024 - Current
Orchestral Violinist - Student Side-by-Side
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
02.2024 - 04.2025
Front of House Employee
Chick-Fil-A
06.2023 - Current
Crochet Club Founder
Trinity High School
05.2023 - 06.2025
Bachelors of Architecture - Architecture
University of Notre Dame
High School Diploma -
Trinity High School
Stamps Pre-College - Drawing
University of Michigan