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Sophie Rojas at parent's night for the August 28, 2026 home game. Photo by: Lisa Garcia
Sophie Rojas is a Flour Bluff High School senior who has been in school, “a lot of years.”
Rojas is a homework enthusiast, a cheerleader, and fun editor for the Waldron Street Journal. Rojas is a true Hornet: her school spirit radiates onto her peers.
One of the Flour Bluff High School Paraprofessionals, Jennifer Martinez, also known as Mrs. Jen, spends a lot of time with Rojas.
“She loves everything Hornets. She just loves it, ” Martinez said.
Martinez tries to make sure that Rojas is not too hard on herself, and tries to bring a positive atmosphere for her every school day. Rojas and Mrs. Martinez like to sing, dance, and make fart jokes when walking through the hallways going from class to class.
“This is her last year, I want her to have all the senior laughs, I want her to enjoy her last year here,” Martinez said. “She loves walking through karaoke Fridays with the English [teachers] singing and dancing, kicking our feet up making jokes, making fart jokes sorry mom I just wanna keep her laughing.”
Sophie shows off her Homecoming 2026 fit. Photo by: Lisa Garcia
Sophie and her father dance together at her quinceañera on January 21, 2023. Photo by: Cora Johnson
Sophie’s mother, Dr. Edith Rojas, has undeniably been a large factor in Sophie’s academic success. From a young age, Dr. Rojas has valued education for her daughter. As an infant, Dr. Rojas was concerned that because of Sophie’s down syndrome she would not be able to speak Spanish and English. Due to Dr Rojas' hard work and dedication, Sophie speaks English, Spanish, and American sign language.
“We started teaching sign language and we saw how easy [she learned]. She was just like a sponge absorbing [information] so that's when I determined we shouldn't put a limit, we should just keep encouraging, and she's able to be bilingual. She can text in Spanish and in English. She speaks to her aunts and her cousins and when my parents were alive to her grandparents in Spanish,” Dr. Rojas said.
Sophie’s parents have never seen a reason to limit their daughter due to her disabilities. In fact, they are encouraging her to go to college and become a photographer. Dr. Rojas took Sophie on multiple college tours, and Sophie is currently planning to go to Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (TAMUCC).
“Every year we go to the national down syndrome meeting in the United States. It's very exciting to know that many universities have programs for after high school for students with disabilities. This year she went to a summer camp at Auburn University and she did excellent. We also went to Clemson University to teach them independent skills and many very good programs. I think for this year Sophie is very interested in continuing with a minor in photography at Texas A&M University here in Corpus Christi,” Dr. Rojas said.
Rojas plans on going to Texas A&M University Corpus Christi after graduation and majoring in photography and arts. Rojas credits being a part of the Waldron Street Journal as last year’s photography editor as her reason to go into photography.
“I learned a lot,” Rojas said.
Rojas’ favorite teacher is Mrs. Weischwill. Rojas has had Mrs. Weischwill’s dance class since she was a freshman, and is now in her science class. Rojas’ loves Mrs.Weischwill most because,
Sophie visits Quebec City in Canada in July 2026. Photo by: Lisa Garcia
Sophie and her family gather together before the Mass celebration at her quinceañera in 2023. Photo by: Cora Johnson
“She helps me with everything,” and “I get good grades,” said Rojas.
Having multiple adult sources of encouragement have made Rojas be one of the most resilient people Flour Bluff has ever seen. Rojas’ disability gets in the way, but never wins.
“I think when you work so hard then the pleasure of working so hard is different from when things come easy to you. So I think she likes being able to achieve any milestone or to achieve something for her, so I think working hard is on her. She has developed this work ethic since a very young age because she has to work extra to achieve anything the discipline is already built in her since she was a very young age,” Dr. Rojas said.
Rojas hopes to inspire other hornets by showing them that if she can make good grades, they can too. Sophie’s impressive GPA shows the one thing she wants others to know about her,
“I'm smart,” Rojas said.
Sophie is an excellent student, with great Hornet pride, and a kind silly heart. Sophie will make an incredible photographer; she, no doubt, will continue to persevere despite her disadvantages.
After all of her hard work, Sophie deserves a zero sugar reward.
“I deserve a Diet Coke,” Sophie Rojas said.
Sophie celebrates her 18th birthday with the Emerald Band in February 2026. Photo by: Cora Johnson
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