Sonia Maria Garcia, a deaf student at WNMU, is from El Paso, Texas. Sonia comes from a family of four brothers and one sister.

She began her academics at the age of four at Silver Elementary School. After going through her elementary years in the public schools without an interpreter, it became difficult for her and she decided to go to Santa Fe to the school for the Deaf. She liked being in Santa Fe because she learned a lot about the deaf culture and deaf pride. She felt she had a second family there.

Sonia was a cheerleader while attending school in Santa Fe and was a participant of the sports program, playing volleyball and basketball. She was active in various clubs and organizations. Sonia was elected prom princess and was later elected as Homecoming princess and Homecoming queen.

Her favorite pastime is reading about people and families facing and resolving their problems. Sonia likes to write poetry and also likes to spend time with her friends. Sonia is a very cheerful person with a good sense of humor.

Sonia attended Gallaudet University for the Deaf in Washington for one year before coming to WNMU. Sonia is pursuing a degree in education and plans to teach in the Silver City area and possibly teach the deaf in Mexico during the summers.

"I have seen some progress made since I came to Western," says Sonia. "The deaf population have an interpreter on campus and have access to a TTY (teletypewriter telephone). I also see that the teachers have an open mind about learning methods and techniques to help the deaf students."