Sofia Mejia
High School Spanish Teacher
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Sofia Mejia, and I am from Atlantic Highlands in Monmouth County. My previous job brought me up north, where I have resided for the past seven years, but I visit my home town down by the shore as often as I can, and I love spending time with my family.
My interests and hobbies include traveling, missions, music, and languages. In addition to knowing Spanish, I am currently learning Hebrew, which I love! As a Jewish believer, one of my biggest passions is to share how the Jewishness of Jesus enriches one’s faith. I have a heart for Israel, and I am passionate about sharing God’s heart for Israel and the significance of this beautiful nation.
Tell us the story of how God brought you to work at EC.
I am a graduate of Moravian College, where I majored in Elementary Education and Spanish. My Cuban grandmother, as well as my love for missions and travel, inspired me to learn Spanish. During my senior year of college I studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, and after returning I taught in a Spanish immersion classroom. My traveling experiences have also provided me with opportunities to practice interpreting and translating. A unique opportunity I also had after graduating was teaching English in Guatemala to elementary, middle, and high school students.
Before my first full time job, I worked as a substitute teacher in mostly language classrooms (ESOL or Spanish) at the elementary, middle, and high school level. For the past seven years I taught Spanish to grades Kindergarten through Fourth Grade in New York City, where I created the Spanish program for these grades.
My interest in Eastern Christian stemmed from a desire to teach in a Messiah-centered environment, where biblical principles are instilled in students, and where Jesus is presented as He truly is. After a conflict arose at my previous school, my convictions would not allow me to stay, but I felt at peace because I knew that God was taking me out of the city. I had applied to Eastern Christian, and on the day before our last day of school I received an email from Eastern Christian about a phone interview. God closed this chapter of my life, but He opened the door to work at Eastern Christian, and it is an answered prayer.
What sets EC apart?
I chose the field of teaching because of the unique opportunity that educators have to influence children and youth. But Eastern Christian is set apart for a special purpose because it is influencing its students for Jesus. I will never forget the words I heard during my phone interview: “God is a part of everything we do here.” This is the kind of school community I want to be a part of. Something else about Eastern Christian that caught my attention immediately is how a heart of service is instilled in the students. I love how Eastern Christian truly lives the Gospel.
Training up children and youth in God’s standards and raising the next generation for the Lord is one of ways I desire to make an impact for Him, and I am honored to partner with a community whose mission is to uphold this essential responsibility.