When I share the knowledge and awareness that I’m the founder of a school newsletter with friends and family, the most common question to follow is ‘how did that happen?’.

I’m always amused to explain that it was, at least for me, a happy accident. I had an idea, I approached the right person, with it, namely our Dean of Student Services, Rosalie Cook, and she placed me in a fortunate position to start the project I had in mind. After several discussions with faculty and university personnel, I was given free rein to jump right in.

Upon entering Sofia University, I was astonished at how much we, as students, create. We open ourselves up to the material we read, the thoughts or feelings we are processing about our subject matter, and the ability to flex our creative aspects is brought to the forefront in our classes. Every course is layered with intentions, learning, integration, and creative expression. I found myself wanting to share my expressions with a wider audience than the canvas cohorts could reach at one time. I wanted to offer a space where other people could share their expressions as well. I wanted to open our student learning world a little bit wider so that the things we develop are allowed to touch other people and help them develop too. I also wanted to create a middle ground between student life and professional publication; more specifically some kind of student-level credential that future resumes could contain that offered up some previous experience in our small niche field. Student experiences pave the way for adult successes, so I wanted to find a placement for those student experiences.

Sofia’s Wisdom is born of that same feeling, those same needs, and the responding call among the student body to commit themselves to their future through the publication of their own works. I feel honored and fortunate to start this project; to bring you the voices of your fellow cohorts from the MATP and Ph.D. programs of Sofia’s great depth. We are a University that is constantly putting our best foot forward, and now our students get to express the wisdom they develop each step of the way. I am grateful to bring these to the public view, no matter where in the world you are. I hope this opens our niche field a little wider, and I hope it finds those who have never experienced it before. Lastly, I hope we all get to read and share and read again.

Thank you all for joining me in my happy accident.

Stephanie Witechowsky, Founder & Editor-in-Chief

stephanie.witechowsky@sofia.edu