remembering sophia lambeRt Miami Palmetto Senior High School graduate and University of Florida freshman Sophia Lambert was known for her beautiful smile, loving spirit and hardworking attitude. Most of all, Sophia made it a point to make memories with the people around her. “She was always super outgoing, and she would always live in the moment; if anyone ever asked her to hang out and do anything, she was always down to do it,” Palmetto alumni Maddie Abella said. “It could be going out to eat, or driving around and singing to people, she always just wanted to be with her friends and her family… and everyone that she loved.” On Jan. 16, Sophia passed away after she and four of her friends were hit by a car while standing on the sidewalk on University Avenue in Gainesville. This tragedy is not the first; in December, a car struck and killed UF student Maggie Paxton in the same area. In light of these events, several petitions have circled calling for greater traffic safety at UF, specifically at University Avenue where the accidents occurred. Only 18 years old at the time of her passing, Sophia made a difference in all of the many lives she touched. Sophia was famous for her hugs and affectionate attitude, something those who came across her testify to constantly. “The biggest thing she taught me was just to love, because I personally am not a very touchy person, but Sophia was,” Palmetto sophomore and Sophia’s sister Abbie Lambert said. “She just taught me to always give more hugs, and I think that was a really big thing for her.” Palmetto senior Seth Kessler continued: “When Sophia found out I got into my dream school, she literally ran up to me and gave me the best hug I’ve ever gotten, because she was so happy for me. That’s a testament to her great character and a moment I’ll definitely never forget.”
Sydney Lambert, Sophia’s other sister, agrees. “It was really important to her that everyone knew how much she actually loved them. She took it very seriously that she told people that she loved them every single day, multiple times a day, even if it was just a random ‘I love you so much’ text,” Sydney said. At Palmetto, she involved herself across the board, spreading her positivity and light throughout the Miami community. As a member of Palmetto’s Student Council, she served as a Special Events Chair, the Senator job tasked with planning events such as homecoming and prom for the entire school. Sophia joined The Palm Echo yearbook her senior year as an academics editor. In Palmetto’s drama department, she participated in musicals such as “Merrily We Roll Along” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Fellow thespians described her as the “first to volunteer for anything” in their Instagram statement. Sophia was also Temple Judea’s JTY President. She took pride in her Jewish heritage, and volunteered as a camp counselor for Camp Jenny. Dedicating her days to spreading positivity to underprivileged children, Sophia made a difference at Camp Jenny not because she had to, but because she wanted to. Sophia’s friends and family have organized a donation drive to Camp Jenny in Sophia’s honor, which has already raised over $15,000 in the first few days since its creation. To donate, click here. “Sophia was this bright light that never stopped shining,” Palmetto alumni and UF freshman Mackenzie Farkas said. “She had a gift with children and she was just drawn to them.” As Sophia made the move to UF, she took her interests and applied them. Sophia majored in theater, a passion she fostered in her high school years. After only a semester, Sophia had already gotten actively involved in her
