Success After Solebury School

Zonia Rueda '15
Ursinus College 2019

“At Solebury, I learned to think critically, which has helped me a lot in the biology major that I am currently pursuing. Solebury also taught me to persevere no matter what the circumstances — that has also helped me in my college career.” —Zonia

Zonia is a biology major at Ursinus College, where she was honored to take part in a program called the Fellowships in the Ursinus Transition to an Undergraduate Research Experience (FUTURE). Through FUTURE, Zonia conducted research on HIV and its effects on brain immune cells, and then presented her research at the University of Pennsylvania and at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The experience inspired a love of biology research, which she’s currently pursuing through a summer internship at Amicus Therapeutics, a rare disease biotech pharmaceutical company in New Jersey. (She landed the internship through a Solebury School connection.) Zonia is working in the cell biology and biochemistry department for research on CDKL5 deficiency disease.

At Solebury School, Zonia excelled in her science classes and in so much more. She helped create our Hispanic Student Association and our Red Cross Club, and she served as a class president for two years and co-president of our Community Council. “At Solebury, I learned that I should be able to speak about my perspectives on issues in a way that is respectful to others,” says Zonia. “I have carried this concept throughout my college career, especially with the different opinions that have risen in the past couple of years.” These skills have served her well as a Resident Advisor at Ursinus and as a Senior Fellow for Ursinus College Admissions. Zonia wore similar hats at Solebury School as a peer leader and school tour guide. She was also known for going out of her way to help others, including informally tutoring some of our Spanish students (Zonia is trilingual).

Zonia juggled singing in Solebury’s chorus, running cross-country, and performing in our theater program with all of the above. “Solebury was a place where I learned to balance both my academics and extracurricular activities, which I have done at Ursinus,” Zonia says.

“Overall, Solebury School was a place where I grew as a student and person, which has helped me become the person I am today. I love this place so much, and I am grateful I was able to attend for four years of high school.”

—Summer 2018

Read more Success After Solebury stories.