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Miss Sunnyside candidate Maria Elena Sosa
Maria Elena Sosa August 27, 2010 She feels it is important for every citizen to step up in service to their community and Maria Elena Sosa is working to do just that as a candidate for the 2010-11 Miss Sunnyside title. She said Miss Sunnyside is a role model in the community, and the members of the court are actively involved in serving those around them. Sosa wants to fill that role, becoming a role model to her peers and those with whom she comes in contact on a daily basis. She said younger girls especially need to see there are no bounds to being a positive influence on others. "I want to encourage even the most quiet, reserved individuals to stand up for what they believe in," said Sosa. She mentions those with a quiet disposition, stating those are the individuals who typically do not feel they have the confidence to share their voice in the community. "They are important too," she said, stating she wants to pass the philosophy of giving back to the community to everyone, making a lasting legacy for future generations. Sosa's community service project, if selected for the Miss Sunnyside title, will be working with students in the special education resource program at Chief Kamiakin Elementary School. She said she wants to help those students with their schoolwork, inspiring them and helping them feel they have the capability to accomplish whatever they desire. "I want to propel them into future success because they have goals and any goal is achievable. The students in the program have special needs and they need someone who is willing to show them they are just like other kids...they just face different challenges than others do," Sosa stated. For the Miss Sunnyside Pageant talent segment, she will be singing and dancing to the song "Como Una Mariposa," which is translated to "How do you become a butterfly." Sosa said the song was chosen because the original artist, Diana Reyes, is an inspiration to her. Reyes, she said, is a community activist. The song is also a traditional Mexican tune to which Sosa will perform a duranguense. "It provides me an opportunity to celebrate my heritage," she explained. The Sunnyside High School junior said English is her favorite academic subject. She enjoys expressing her feelings and experiences through poetry, song and prose. This year, Sosa is also attending YV-Tech, participating in the certified nurse's aide program. She anticipates participating in Running Start at Yakima Valley Community College next year. After high school graduation, she wants to continue her education with the goal of earning a Bachelor's degree in nursing. She wants to become a neonatal intensive care nurse. "I was premature as a newborn," Sosa said, stating she was born with a few abnormalities and the staff in the neonatal intensive care unit kept her alive. "I want to pass on my experience, helping the most vulnerable members of society," she said. Sosa is also a member of her school's bowling team and Link Crew. Her parents are Maria Prieto and Arnulfo Sosa, and she has five sisters and two brothers. Sosa's sponsors for the Miss Sunnyside Pageant are Candy Girlz, Champ and Seed and Hi-Way Fruit. |
