On the streets, spontaneous conversations often remind us of how essential good company is and how powerful it is to accept ourselves fully. In this feature, we connect with Sophia to talk about her friends, navigating a late autism diagnosis, and what brings genuine vitality to her days.
For Sophia, feeling alive is centred around the people who lift her spirits and get her out into the world:
"Probably my friends, my girlfriend, just going out, having fun, being social... It just makes me happy really, like gets me out my house."
Opening up about the hurdles she has faced, Sophia shares an honest reflection on growing up undiagnosed and learning to let go of shame:
"I'd say I struggled a lot in school. I got diagnosed as autistic quite late on so it struggled like a lot in my life with stuff like that. Well, I've not overcome it but I've like learned how to live with it, learned not to be embarrassed of it... I just know that it's not something I should be like ashamed of. Like you shouldn't be ashamed if you have anything diagnosed with you. Just learn to live with it and learn to like make friends and hang out with people who like do the right things."
Closing our conversation, Sophia shares a simple, timeless message for the world:
"Be kind, I know everyone says that but just be kind, you never know what anyone's going through."
