Sophie de Lavandeyra

  

Volume 10 | Issue I | March 2026

The Hewitt School ’26

New York, United States

  

My focus on women’s rights started with translating The Twelve Tables as part of my Latin project at Hewitt. I was surprised that one single word, pudicitia (female virtue), could have such a lasting influence over how women were treated. That moment was the start of realizing how powerful the written word is and how words are able to dictate what people are allowed to do. This experience became the foundation of my paper, where I studied how ancient Roman conceptions of chastity and submission influenced the lawmaking of colonial America. I wanted to know why something that was supposed to protect women could ultimately limit their abilities and independence. Through researching this subject, I developed patience, a desire to read deeply, and a willingness to follow my own curiosity. In addition to leading both my school’s Debate Team and Dance Team, I developed an app called "Know My Rights AI," which provides immigrants with accessible legal information, and I study classical piano, which keeps me grounded and focused. Whether I express myself through movement, research, or music, I continue to ask the same question: how can we design a structure that promotes freedom rather than suppresses it?