Rising Stars: Meet Sarah Alfonso of Nashville, Davidson County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Alfonso

Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a freshman at Vanderbilt University and an international student from South Sudan. I was born at a refugee camp in Uganda in 2004. When I was four years old, my family moved from Uganda to South Sudan, just a few years before the country gained independence in 2011. I grew up in a family of seven—three brothers, one sister, and my parents.
As a child, I loved spending time with older people, learning from their stories, and engaging in conversations about politics, religion, or anything that piqued my curiosity. This fueled my inquisitive spirit. At a small school in South Sudan, I nurtured my love for learning by asking lots of questions and reading, which I picked up earlier than most of my peers. My parents are both high school teachers; my dad taught at a religious Adventist school, where I spent my early years until I was eleven. Missionaries would often visit, bringing toys and taking photos with us, which brought me so much joy. My outgoing nature allowed me to connect with them easily, and I formed a deep bond with an American missionary couple. The woman, especially, had a profound impact on my life, teaching me English and encouraging my faith. I often helped translate during community service outings, which I loved. When she left in 2014 due to the outbreak of war in South Sudan, I was heartbroken. I promised myself I would study in America one day, see her again, and work toward making that dream a reality.
Less than a year later, the war forced my family to relocate to Uganda yet again, where we registered as refugees. My dad lost his job, and the savings they’d built over the years kept us going. While we registered as refugees, we didn’t stay in a camp but instead settled near a university where my mom was studying. Having left school due to financial constraints as a teenager, she went back to high school later in life, completed her degree, and graduated in 2021. Her resilience and determination to provide for us while pursuing her education continue to inspire me every day. I’m not the eldest child, but I grew up wanting to support my family and ease the burdens my parents faced in sending us to school.
In high school, a partial scholarship helped with my tuition, but I needed more to fully cover my education. I also sought a new environment to push me beyond my comfort zone, which led me to United World College (UWC), where I completed my last two years of high school with the International Baccalaureate diploma Program. UWC’s mission to unite people and cultures for peace and sustainability was exactly what I needed. I had been born a refugee, and although I had only briefly lived in South Sudan, I longed for a place to share my experiences and frustrations about the impact of war. I wanted to use my voice to advocate against the trauma and pain that war causes.
My two years at UWC East Africa were transformative. Exposed to diverse cultures and perspectives, I felt myself grow. Through the Davis scholarship program, which partners with U.S. colleges, I received a scholarship to Vanderbilt University in collaboration with the Davis Foundation. This is an opportunity that has changed my life forever, having been in the US for almost 3 months now and navigating life here is a unique and impactful experience.
My first flight was to Tanzania for UWC, and my second was to the U.S.—a rare opportunity for a high school student from Africa. In 2023 summer i participated in Yale Young Global Scholars program, through Roundpier an organization that enables young High school student get opportunities. They partnered with YYGS to cover my tuition and a fundraising i did helped with flights and other additional costs. I also participated in another summer program at the University of Chicago, in the same summer. A highlight of my U.S. journey was reuniting with the missionary woman who had been so influential in my life. Nine years after she left South Sudan, I fulfilled my promise to see her again. Her family’s kindness and support changed my family’s life, and I am forever grateful.
They lived in Crossville, Tennessee, which is how I first felt drawn to Tennessee. It inspired me to consider studying here, and ultimately, I found myself at Vanderbilt. Even though it’s only been a few months, I’m incredibly happy here. The Nashville community has been warm and welcoming. Despite being an international student far from home, I feel part of a Christian community and am embraced by Nashville’s people. The warmth in the hearts of the southerners is amazing and everyday meeting new people and connecting has been an impactful experience to me.
This is just a summary of my journey. My story is one of resilience, and every step has been supported by my family, my faith, and the kindness of people willing to invest in a refugee girl seeking a world-class education. Though I often struggle with imposter syndrome, I have gained strength, resilience, and trust in myself, knowing I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I believe that opportunities are there and i just need to take a step to get it. Regardles of whether the percentage is zero, i still go for it because anything can happen and i should never be the one to belittle myself. And my word to anyone reading my story is that, you are the voice in your head that directs your every though and action. Take control of it and do what is right for you and those around you. We are humans and we are born to live as a community of people who love, care and support each other.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing up, I often felt pressured to look more beautiful, be more organized, and stay a step ahead of others my age. This drive led me to mature faster than my peers and see the world not as a fairytale with a “happily ever after” but as a place that requires resilience, hard work and endless toiling. I struggled with low self-esteem, feeling that I had to live up to others’ expectations of me—being outspoken, fluent in English, and intelligent. But beneath those strengths, I often felt unattractive, horrible in every single thing i did and i never appreciated any efforts i put. I told myself that if I didn’t have the looks, I needed to have the brains. For a long time, that was how I coped always trying to be smart about everything just to fit in.
Accepting myself has been a journey, but over time, I’ve learned to see my own worth. I’m comfortable sharing this because I know many girls feel the same way—like they aren’t beautiful or smart enough. It okay to feel that way but one thing we need to know is every person is unique so we ought to embrace ourselves. Once we start accepting ourselves and seeing our unique value, we realize that we’re each a remarkable gift to this world.
One of my greatest challenges was the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed my schooling for two years. All my plans were put on hold, and it was a difficult time for my family both financially and emotionally. My dad was working in South Sudan, trying to make ends meet, but with the borders closed, he couldn’t come to visit us in Uganda. My school closed even before the first COVID case was reported in the country, which devastated me as it was my grade 10 year a significant time for a high school student in Uganda. Despite the hardships, COVID turned out to be a blessing in disguise. During those two years, I discovered my passion for poetry, which became a powerful outlet for expressing myself. Through poetry, I began to address issues like war, trauma, and violence, finding my voice and purpose along the way.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been a songwriter since I was around nine years old, mostly writing church songs, as singing has always been my passion. Although I’ve never received formal training or learned to play any instruments, I’ve developed a good ear for music and a natural talent for crafting melodies. I sing anything as long as love it. I grew up watching America’s Got Talent and Simon is my favorite judge, it felt like a place of expression something I always yearned for since I was young. I hope to go for it once, though my drive to go for it now is a bit less than when I was younger.
I also write poetry and perform spoken word. This journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown when I decided to teach myself a new skill because staying home all day was a bit too wasteful. I started exploring poetry books at a local library, where I fell in love with the words of Shakespearean sonnets, free verse, and American folk poetry. The way these poets used language to convey deep meanings fascinated me. My poems have never taken any of these shapes because I try to find something unique to me. Since I sing I perform spoken word poems with songs. I have completed my first poetry collection, though it’s not yet published due to financial constraints. I hope to publish it someday and share it with a wider audience but I share it will my Social media audience.
In high school, I shared my love for poetry by teaching other students how to use their talents to advocate for issues they care about, such as environmental protection. Inspired by this, I founded a youth-led organization focused on empowering young voices in the fields of environmental advocacy and sustainability. As part of this initiative, I led a three-week creative writing workshop that taught students how to use their writing, speaking, or musical talents to champion environmental causes. I’m still settling in at Vanderbilt, but I plan to expand this initiative here by connecting with local elementary schools around Nashville, and hopefully even reaching out virtually to South Sudan and other countries.
I am also an aspiring model, and though it’s still a work in progress, I love being in front of the camera. Recently, I participated in my first photoshoot themed “Lady in Black,” which focused on navigating a male-dominated world while embracing both feminine energy and masculine mindset. The setting was dark, symbolizing the challenges we face, but I stood out boldly, representing resilience and self-confidence. To me, surviving sometimes means balancing strength with grace, and I believe this blend is worth the effort. Modeling allows me to reach a broader audience and to be a voice for others who may not have a platform. One day, I hope to walk red carpets, fully embracing my femininity and staying true to myself.

What’s next?
I am currently pursuing a double major in Environmental Sociology and Cultural Leadership & Advocacy, with a minor in Law, History, and Society. My deep passion for the environment, justice, and politics has inspired my goal of attending law school to become an international or environmental attorney. I feel a strong sense of responsibility not only towards the people of South Sudan, my homeland, but to the world as a whole. I want to work toward a future where peace and joy are possible for all children, free from trauma and hardship. My goal is to advocate for the well-being of people and to protect the environment, promoting a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, which we so deeply rely on. My nickname is Olexa- it means defender of mankind. This has been my ultimate goal, doing all i can to defend the mankind from outside sources and even themselves.
Growing up as a refugee, I was familiar with organizations like the United Nations and UNICEF. I still remember the white buses that brought my family and i to South Sudan when i was 4 and UNICEF bags given at school when i got first place with books and pencils. It will be an honor to intern with the UN during my undergraduate years and, ultimately, to work with them. The humanity that some of these humanitarian organizations show is something i have grown up being inspired by and i want to be a part of it. My dream is to one day establish my own organization, providing essential services to people in South Sudan and beyond. These services would range from legal consultancy to youth empowerment, humanitarian aid, and environmental justice combining all of my passions to create positive change in the world.
Though it’s still a vision, I can see its potential impact on nations and communities. I am committed to making this dream a reality, believing that through God, anything is possible as long as it aligns with His will. It may be a dream to everyone but as long as i have though about it and how i can pull through, i don’t worry about the implementation because any great idea can inspire investors. But for now i want to find a community at Vanderbilt, thrive in my studies while making the best out of life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olexaprincess/profilecard/?igsh=MWF1cXhiYjI5d3ZqYw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19R2dxKqkD/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@saraholexasos1644?si=SRNNWqcUXkLHzwAe