This Latina TikTok Teacher is Your Ticket to a Chance at Winning a Scholarship

The cost of education shouldn’t be the reason why Latinx students don’t get a college degree. We connected with Sofía Bella, a virally-known Kindergarten Latina educator based in Las Vegas who  teamed up with McDonalds to give students a chance at winning up to $100,000 by applying to the HACER® National Scholarship. 

With over 3 Million followers on TikTok and a personality that catches young and adult audiences, Sofía is one Latina to watch. Get to know her more and check out our Q&A with her.

What is your education background? 

I graduated high school in 2015 and enrolled into college that Fall. I graduated from the College of Southern Nevada in the Winter of 2017 with my Associates in Elementary Education. I then transferred over to the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where I completed my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education in the Winter of 2019. 

How has education played a role in helping you get to where you are now? ○ I believe in order to get where you want to be, education is the most powerful tool. If I didn’t make the decision to go to college, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Becoming a teacher was only the beginning of this journey. 

Give us details about where your passion for education comes from and how/when you made the decision to turn TikTok into a virtual classroom? ○ Being a teacher wasn’t my first choice when deciding what I wanted to do when I grew up. I knew I wanted to help others and have an impact on the world. I realized that our future is in the hands of the children, and I could change the world one class at a time. TikTok allowed me to open up my classroom to the world and inspire others to do what they are passionate about, no matter what that is. 

With millions of followers and recently being named one of TikTok’s 2021 Latinx Trailblazers, what would you say is your recipe for success on the platform? ○ Be yourself! I cannot stress this enough, whether it is to my followers or to my own students. The world needs a “you” – not another someone who exists. I truly believe that by constantly sharing my life in and out of the classroom, it allows others to see that it is okay to be yourself and you don’t need to conform to who society believes “teachers” or “influencers” should be. 

How did the partnership with McDonald’s come to be? Why is it important for major brands to take action in support of the Hispanic community? ○ I am so excited to be partnering with McDonald’s for its HACER® National Scholarship! I believe if we are going to stress to kids how important education is, we need to give everyone an equal opportunity. Many students in the hispanic community are first generation high school graduates and college students. By offering this scholarship, it is giving our community an opportunity to achieve their dreams without the stress of trying to balance school with working to pay for college. 

@iamsofiabella #ad Don’t miss out! Apply now to the @McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship. Deadline is 2/7! #LinkInBio #HACERmore ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

What would you say to students who see the cost of higher education as a barrier to achieving their dreams? 

Nothing is impossible. Growing up, I always knew college was something I needed but I worried how I would attend. I come from a low income household where going to college was the only option because we knew it was our ticket to success. Thankfully, with the help of scholarships due to my academics, I was able to attend all four years of school. 

Why is it important for Hispanic youth to take advantage of resources like the HACER® National Scholarship?

This is their opportunity to make college possible! If it weren’t for opportunities like these, college wouldn’t have been possible for me. The McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship is one of the largest programs in the country committed to college scholarships and resources for hispanics, awarding THIRTY outstanding high school students annually! 

What is your message to this generation of Hispanic students thinking about college? 

¡Sí Se Puede! Go out there and make your dreams come true. The future is ours and thanks to the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship, your opportunity is right here! All you have to do is go to www.mcdonalds/HACER to learn more and apply before the Feb. 7 deadline!

About the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship

For more than 35 years, McDonald’s USA and its Hispanic Owner/Operators have served up bright futures by providing Hispanic high school students across the country with opportunities for higher education. Since its founding in 1985, the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship program has awarded $32 million in scholarships and helped more than 17,000 students. It is one of the largest programs committed to college scholarships and resources for Hispanics, awarding 30 outstanding high school seniors annually, based on their academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need. Scholarship applicants can directly receive up to $100,000 to help finance their tuition. Hispanic college-bound high school seniors and their parents are encouraged to visit mcdonalds.com/hacer for college resources in English and Spanish, and to apply for the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship. The scholarship application period for the 2022-2023 academic year is open now through Feb. 7, 2022. To finalize their entries, applicants will need to submit their letters of recommendation by Feb. 14, 2022.

About their TikTok educators

• Sofia Bella (3M Followers) | Las Vegas, NV

  • Kindergarten teacher and first-gen Latina with an active presence on “Teacher TikTok.” She was named a 2021 TikTok LatinX Trailblazer

• Angel Fross (534.2K Followers) | Charleston, SC

  • High school Spanish teacher with a large TikTok following, known for playing “guessing games” in Spanish with her students.

• Nat, Nattie Meets World (464K Followers) | Fort Lauderdale, FL

  • Hispanic third grade teacher in Florida with a presence on “Teacher TikTok”. She is known for her comedic content and positive vibes.

• Isaias, The Latino Teacher (205.8K Followers) | Chicago, IL

  • Mexican teacher and part-time foodie who is also a part of “Teacher TikTok.” He also posts jokes and relatable content on Latinidad.