The Emory Senior Spotlight Series continues with a look at current women's track & field student-athlete Sofia Beltran.

Name: Sofia Beltran

Hometown (HS): Gibsonia, PA (Mars Area HS)

Sport: Women's Track & Field

Major: Biology on pre-med track

** How did you start getting involved with track & field? How old were you when you started competing? 

I first joined the track & field team in 8th grade with the intention of conditioning for tennis but ended up falling in love with the sport. 

** Do you have any current plans for after graduation? 

I currently work for a startup called ONDO which I helped launch in September of 2020, so I plan on continuing my work with the team as well as starting as a healthcare investment banking analyst at Lazard this upcoming July. 

** What is one piece of advice you would give to your freshman self? 

One thing I would tell my freshman self is to stress less and enjoy college because everything eventually falls into place. 

** Which Emory faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why? 

In athletics, my track coach freshman year Jordan Hill empowered me to run the 400m hurdles for the first time and pushed me both physically and mentally to have a strong freshman season. Strength coaches Ben Reynolds and Drew Williams also made me into the strongest version of myself I've ever been. Academically, Professor Valerio supported me within the Goizueta business school although I am in the College of Arts and Sciences and helped me enroll in classes that prepared me for my investment banking career. 

** What is one class would you retake just for fun and why? 

I would retake FIN 428 Investment Banking again because it was fun being a bio major in high level Goizueta classes since it is a completely different environment. 

** What is the most unique thing about your hometown? 

I'm from Mexico City, which is unique because it's a major city at the base of a volcano and with visible Aztec ruins.

** What is something that people may not know about you but should? 

Not many people know that I lived in Shanghai, China, for almost four years. 

** Other than track & field, what is another one you think you could play at a high level? 

I could play tennis at a high level. 

** What is one professional athlete (past or present) would you like to have a conversation with and why? 

I would love to have a conversation with Nick Kyrgios because he is known for breaking the status quo in the traditional sport of tennis.

** How have you been trying to occupy your time with given the current COVID environment? 

Working to grow ONDO keeps me busy, the nature of a startup is exciting because there is constant work and none of it is redundant and repetitive like in a mature corporate setting.

** Food you hate that everybody else seems to enjoy? 

I love Mexican candy which is both sweet and spicy, it's definitely not for everyone.

** What would you say are your top three movies or television shows of all time? 

Interstellar, Casa de Papel, American Horror Story

** What is your favorite thing to do around Atlanta? 

Trying new restaurants every week.

** What is your favorite Atlanta restaurant?

Hard to pick one: Chai Yo, The Optimist, Delbar, Umi

** What has been your most memorable moment during competition during your Eagles career? 

My most memorable moment was my first ever collegiate meet. We went to the Crossplex in Alabama and I was put in the 4x4 relay, during my handoff another runner stepped into my lane causing me to break my nose but with the adrenaline I ran my leg with a bloody face anyways and passed the other runner from the team that broke my nose. 

** Favorite non-athletic moment from your past few years at Emory? 

It's hard to single out one specific moment, but in general having met so many amazing friends outside of athletics and being able to participate in other extracurriculars like bio research has been great.

** What would be one thing you'd like to impart to the underclassmen before finishing your career? 

One thing I'd like to tell the underclassmen is to work their hardest but not take everything too seriously, because when you get caught up in the details you forget to have fun and college is over before you know it.