Citrus College Mathematics Professor Sophia Lee teaches multiple courses, speaks at conferences throughout various college campuses and recently completed her doctoral degree at California State University Fullerton, all while raising two children.
“As I look back on all the sleepless nights while writing my dissertation and holding my newborn at the same time,” Lee said. “My number one motivating factor will always be my family. Giving my family a better life will always be my reason for going back to school to get my degree.”
Balancing motherhood, family and a full-time career comes naturally to her. Lee said being a 21st century woman is exhilarating as opposed to outdated standards, today nothing is limiting: not motherhood and not family.
“Sophia became a super human after she had kids,” husband Tommy Lau said. “She does it all, and does it all so well. Sophia is definitely a lot more stressed after having kids, especially while working full-time and getting her doctorate, but I know she wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With young children and a hectic schedule, her husband and mother hold down the fort at home so she is able to juggle multiple things like her career and educational goals.
“Balancing a life with a full-time job, full-time school and being a full-time mom was absolutely the hardest thing I have ever had to do,” Lee said. “Women carry an incredible amount of strength and have the potential to achieve anything they put their mind to.”
Lee said being a female professor comes with a level of difficulty she had to overcome when she first began teaching. The lack of respect she initially received from her male students on her position of authority made her a stronger professor.
“I remember teaching calculus, and calculus is a male dominated subject,” Lee said. “My male students would talk over me or expect me to take on that ‘woman’s role’ and let them take over. It didn’t help that I looked like a student and not the professor. But over time, it’s that building of confidence that helped me to own my title as a professor and own my classroom.”
Lee said the struggles she has had to face as a woman in a male-dominated field should have made her educational journey daunting, but it encouraged her to push on.
“If there is anyone who can handle the pressure, it would be her,” Lau said.
Lee’s husband said she is the strongest woman he knows and well-respected because of her determination.
Lee said her determination is what has kept her persevering on this journey.
“You know, there’s a stigma with women in programs like mine when they see them pregnant,” Lee said. “A lot of people seen me pregnant and expected me to drop out. But for me, it made me want to keep going. It’s even more worth it to me when I’m with my kids.”
It took Lee six years to transfer to UC Berkeley from East Los Angeles College with an associates degree, so teaching at an institution similar to one she spent most of her time at while figuring out what she wanted to do was a goal of hers.
“I never thought I would be here,” Lee said. “I graduated high school with a 1.0 in math. I didn’t even walk with my graduating class. To go from that to where I am today, it’s just incredible.”
Lee’s husband said she turned things around during her six years spent in community college.
“Sophia’s turning point was in community college,” Lau said. “At first, she didn’t take it too seriously, but after seeing other students struggling, she realized she could help them learn in a better way because she wasn’t a perfect student and could relate to them more. Once she found her passion in wanting to become a community college teacher, she was unstoppable after that.”
Lee’s husband has supported her journey since her community college days, and now her students say the help and support she gives them has helped them to accomplish their educational goals.
Former student Reginald Ortiz took Math 150 with Professor Sophia Lee in the fall of 2018.
“The world needs more teachers like her,” Ortiz said. “She really does take a personal interest in the well being of her students. To this day, if I have any questions about my current math classes or transfer questions, I can email Professor Lee and she will always respond with positivity and insight.”
Ortiz said she made the classroom a comfortable place to learn in, and he would 100% recommend Lee because she is a teacher who inspires students to be great.
“She encouraged students to share their stories about life and what they hoped to accomplish in school,” Ortiz said. “She really made the classroom feel like a family environment.”
Lee emphasized how important getting to know her students was, as well as getting them to learn.
Current and previous student Alicia Aquino said Lee made her going back to school transition easier.
“I was really shy and would never talk or ask questions in class,” Aquino said. “She made me believe in myself. I am 42 years old and I went back to school after 20 years. Having her as one of my teachers at the beginning of me going back to school was the greatest.”
Lee said she wants all of her students to believe in themselves and be successful. She tells them the secret to doing it all is to just do it: Don’t make excuses about why you can’t do things, and just do them.
“Finding time is key to everything,” Lee said. “You just have to make time to do the work. I don’t plan anything. With kids you just have to take time when you can get it. When I wake up in the middle of the night to feed my baby, if I can’t go back to sleep, I get up and study. If I wake up at 4 a.m., I’ll just get up and go study.”
Taking the time to actively teach her students, and implementing a growth mindset in her classroom by teaching her students to believe that their talents can be developed through hard work, strategies, planning and input from others is why her students say she is an unforgettable professor.
Lee’s mother Betty Tsang said that although Lee has a hectic schedule, she respects her daughter for coming so far and accomplishing so much.
“Sophia knows how to make good decisions in critical times for her school, marriage, raising kids, and career,” Tsang said. “She is smart for trying to squeeze in time to enjoy life with the kids from her crazy busy schedule.”
Lee has juggled her family life with her educational goals and full-time job for more than eight years, and she said she can finally take a step back to enjoy the little things.
Lau said he can’t wait to be able to spend more quality time with the family.
“Sophia and I first met in high school with no stress, no worries, and no goals,” Lau said. “We loved going fishing together. Over the years, fishing trips with friends have turned into her work conferences with our kids.”
Lee said she appreciates her husband for being there for her throughout it all. He made things easier for her by sticking by her side especially on her hardest days.
Lau said he remembers being there on those days and driving her to school when she felt like giving up.
“If I could just have one photo on my vision board, it would be of my family,” Lee said. “They are my vision board. Everything I do is for them.”
Lee said her kids keep her grounded and remind her to enjoy life by making her slow down and be present in those moments.
“The hugs are the best moments,” Lee said. “They teach me everything. I wouldn’t do half of the things that I do if it wasn’t for them. Most people are tired of doing ordinary things, they want to go on vacation or go out of town; I’m happy just going to the park with my family.”
Her short-term goal is to visit Walt Disney World with her family, and she will soon take her family there as her last semester of school has come to its end.
During the interview, Lee said the message she wants to leave everyone with is a book. She then held up the book “It Always Seems Impossible Until It’s Done” by Kathryn and Ross Petras.
“I just want people to know not to give up,” Lee said. “If I can do it, they can do it. I would’ve never thought I’d be sitting where I am today, but now that I’m here I’m so happy I decided to stick with my vision board and do the work because it was all worth it! I want everyone to know that they can do it, whatever their it is.”
