Sonia Daptardar shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Sonia, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was this past weekend at the National American Miss final show for my age division. I was standing under the bright stage lights as the emcee was preparing to announce the first runner up. Moments later, I was crowned the National All-American Miss Jr. Teen. It wasn’t just the crown or the title that brought me joy. It was the realization that every late night, every community project, every moment I spent pouring into Seeds of Reading and the young people I serve had somehow led me to this stage.
I felt joy because my win wasn’t just mine. It belonged to the little girl who fell in love with reading and wanted to share that feeling. It belonged to the fourth grader who traveled to India, saw what illiteracy really looked like, and made a quiet promise to do something about it. It belonged to the tween who built an early literacy initiative from scratch, who created reading videos for kids that reached tens of thousands, who expanded a global research project, and who worked with young female lawyers to explore the connection between literacy and justice. It belonged to the girl who spent hundreds of hours trying to make the world even a little bit brighter for someone else.
And when they called my name, I felt like my love for service, my love for communicating, my drive to create impact, and my belief that youth voices matter all amplified because I was given the opportunity of a lifetime. NAM has always stood for confidence, community, and kindness, and winning this title made me feel seen in a way I’ll never forget.
In that moment, I felt true joy because it proved that when you lead with purpose, your story has a way of finding its spotlight.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sonia Daptardar and I’m the newly crowned National All-American Miss Jr. Teen at National American Miss. Beyond pageantry, I’m also the founder of Seeds of Reading, an early-literacy initiative I started out of a lifelong love for books and a belief that every child deserves access to stories that inspire them.
What makes my work unique is that Seeds of Reading isn’t just a project, it’s a labor of love. I create accessible reading videos for young kids, run global collaborations, and empower over 50 ambassadors across the U.S. and abroad. I’ve always believed that leadership should start with service, and my organization reflects that: youth-led, community-centered, and impact-driven.
NAM played a huge role in shaping the way I lead. The program has taught me to use my voice with confidence and purpose, which is the same mindset I bring into my literacy work. Winning the National All-American Miss Jr. Teen title will open doors for me to expand this platform, strengthen Seeds of Reading, and reach even more families, educators, and young readers.
Right now, I’m working on expanding our reach, scaling our programs, and working with even more organizations to create greater impact. At the heart of everything I do, whether it is on the NAM stage or through Seeds of Reading, is the belief that small acts of service can spark big change.
I’m excited to use my year as National All-American Miss Jr. Teen to keep proving that.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was younger, I truly believed that I wasn’t someone who took risks. For example, I thought anything related to business was too unpredictable, too bold, and definitely not “safe” enough for someone like me. I was the kid who loved structure and certainty. I always had color coded folders and notebooks, neatly arranged gel pens, and outfits picked out weeks in advance. The idea of putting myself out there through pitching ideas, competing, and advocating felt completely out of reach.
But as I got older, I started stepping into spaces I never imagined for myself. Joining clubs like Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), and Technology Student Association (TSA) pushed me into the world I once avoided. Suddenly, I found myself writing business plans, researching ethical business practices, and representing my school in competitive environments. Somewhere in those late-night prep sessions and early-morning competitions, I realized that not only could I take risks—I could thrive in them. And that changed everything for me.
I discovered a passion for business, especially the side that protects people. Ethical business practices, corporate responsibility, and fairness became topics I couldn’t stop thinking about. That’s what eventually led me to my dream of becoming a corporate attorney because I could become someone who ensures that businesses operate with integrity and transparency.
NAM amplified that transformation. Standing on the NAM stage for the first time in 2020, meeting girls from across the country, and pushing myself far beyond my comfort zone on and off the stage gave me a level of confidence younger me would never have believed possible. NAM reminded me that growth happens when you try new things, and that taking risks can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
So today, I no longer see myself as someone who avoids risks. I see myself as someone who embraces them—with purpose, passion, and the belief that I can use those risks to create meaningful impact.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me tons of priceless lessons that success simply couldn’t. The first of those lessons came to me in the world of dance. As a lifelong ballet dancer. I spent eleven years training before I ever earned my pointe shoes. There were days when the corrections felt endless, when my muscles ached, and when it felt like everyone else was progressing faster than I was. I often questioned myself: Why couldn’t I nail the pirouettes everyone else could? Why couldn’t I jump as high or spin as fast? But those years of waiting and working in the shadows taught me that perseverance isn’t a glamorous or thrilling process. It’s quiet, patient, and often emotionally painful. And yet, it builds a strength that success alone can’t.
I felt this again when I moved states in the middle of a global pandemic after living in the same place for eight years. Going from Ohio to North Carolina was a struggle for me. Everything familiar disappeared a random day in March 2020. All of my friends, routines, and most importantly, the version of myself I had grown comfortable with. It was uncomfortable and lonely at times, but it forced me to rebuild, to open myself up to new people, and to understand that connection is something you create, not something you wait for.
And then there was the day I walked into my first FBLA interest meeting. I was skeptical, convinced I didn’t belong in the world of business. But pushing through that uncertainty helped me discover a passion I wouldn’t have found otherwise. It taught me that some of the scariest steps end up shaping the most meaningful parts of who we become.
Suffering taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of human connection. Success celebrates who you are; suffering shapes who you become. Every challenge I’ve faced, whether in ballet, in moving, or in stepping into something new, has strengthened me in ways that victory alone never could.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is the deep sense of family and support that is central to my identity as a first-generation Indian-American. In Indian culture, family isn’t just the people you’re related to, it’s the people you stand by, grow with, celebrate with, and lift up when life gets hard. Growing up, I called countless people who weren’t related to me in blood but were my family in every way that mattered “Auntie” or “Uncle.” I grew up watching how closely my family stayed connected, whether we were across the world or across the living room. My grandparents actually still live in India, yet I have been able to build and maintain a strong relationship with them, and I love them more than words can describe. That constant support system shaped who I am and how I show up for the people I love.
Because of that, I hold my relationships—my friends, my mentors, my community, very close to my heart. I’m the person who checks in, who shows up, who believes loyalty and care shouldn’t be optional. And that value became even stronger through NAM. Winning my title was incredible, but the part that meant the most to me was the sisterhood I gained along the way. NAM introduced me to girls who felt like family from the moment I met them. I met girls who cheer louder when you win, send love when you’re stressed, and remind you that competition never has to mean isolation. In fact, the All-American Jr Teen Class of 2025 will forever hold a special place in my heart. We all treated each other like family and always made sure to express our love, pride, and support for one another.
In many ways, NAM expanded what “family” means to me. It amplified the cultural value I was raised with: you support one another, always. You celebrate together, you grow together, and you never let someone feel like they’re navigating their dreams alone.
So, at my core, the value I protect is connection. A value that is rooted in culture, strengthened by experience, and carried into every friendship and community I’m part of. It’s one of the greatest gifts my heritage has given me, and one I pass on every chance I get.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell the story of a girl who spent her life trying to make other people feel seen, heard, and loved. Someone who used every platform she was given to lift up her community and create opportunities for people who didn’t always have them.
I hope they talk about the hours I poured into Cary Teen Council, not because I had to, but because I believed deeply in showing up for my community. I hope they remember Seeds of Reading, not just as an early literacy initiative, but as a movement that brought books, joy, and confidence to children across states and countries. I hope they talk about the reading videos that reached tens of thousands of young kids, the campaigns that empowered other students, and the resources that helped families feel supported.
I hope they remember my talk show, Inspire–Unite–Motivate, and the dozens of youth changemakers whose stories I helped amplify. I hope they see it as a space where young leaders felt valued, seen, and inspired to dream even bigger.
But more than any title, role, or project, I hope the story people tell is that I cared—that I gave my time, my voice, and my heart to make someone else’s path a little brighter. That I believed in the power of service, even when no one was watching. That I never forgot where I came from and always used my experiences to create good.
And if there’s one sentence, I hope people carry forward, it’s this: she made others feel capable, valued, and included. Because to me, that’s the kind of legacy that lasts far longer than any accomplishment. To me it is all about how you make other people feel because ten years down the line, that’s what people will remember about you. Not the color of your dress on stage or even the color of your hair, but the way you treated them and made them feel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/seedsofreading/home
- Instagram: @seeds_of_reading and @iam_soniadaptardar
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-daptardar-731079312
Image Credits
Amruta Daptardar
Imagine Studios
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