Sophany Sor shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Sophany, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Yes, Many time in my life, I have stepped forward for others whether they were family, friends, my students, or people close to me. I have given my time, my energy, my love, and sometimes even y own opportunities. some sacrifices were small, some were big. Sometimes I received kindness and gratitude in return, but sometimes i received pain instead. Both sides taught me so much.
There were moments when helping others meant I lost things trust, time, opportunities, and even relationships I cared deeply about. I felt hurt in ways that are hard to explain. But even through that pain, I never regretted what I did. I believe that when we give with a genuine heart, the value stays with us, even if others cannot see it.
Pain taught me acceptance. Acceptance taught me peace. And peace taught me to keep waling forward.
On the other hand, some sacrifices brought me something priceless the joy of seeing others grow, smile, have a better future, and feel loved. Those moments cannot be bought with money. They are the kind of happiness that stays quietly in the heart for a long time.
The most meaningful reward was seeing my father proud of what my siblings and I was able to do together. That feeling alone made every sacrifice worth it.
Through these experiences, I learned one important truth:
Standing up for someone doesn’t always reward you instantly. Sometime it costs you. But love, Kindness, and sacrifice grow character, and in the end, they make your heart stronger.
I continue to help where I can, even if it costs me something, because kindness is not a loss. It is a seed. Some seeds bloom quickly, some take time, but all of them plant meaning in our lives.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sophany Sor, a contemporary Cambodia women artist, art teaching ,and General Manager of Colors of Cambodia. My painting blend realism with abstract expression, inspired by my experiences and the stories of the express emotions that words cannot, inviting viewers to feel, reflect, and connect in their own way.
Colors of Cambodia, founded in 1999 by Bill Gentry, Provides free art education and materials, and we send teachers to seven public school, teaching 10 to 12 hours per week in one hour sessions for classes of 50 to 60 students. Our mission is not only to teach art but to nurture hope, curiosity, and possibility. Guiding young people to discover confidence and creativity is one of the most meaningful parts of my work, and I am proud to help the next generation believe in their potential.
Outside of painting and teaching, I enjoy learning Cambodian traditions such as Kun Bokator(Traditional Cambodian Martial Art) and the Pin(Harp). These practices keep me grounded. Through my art and cultural learning, I hope to share stories, preserve tradition, and inspire others. Art, Culture, and Community are at the heart of my journey, and everything I do is for the people and community around me.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a child who loved painting, even if i didn’t believe I could become an artist. Growing up in Cambodia, children were expected to follow their parent’s plans, so I studied finance and banking at university, even though my heart wasn’t in it. Around 15 years ago, I secretly joined my first art class at Colors of Cambodia and for the first time, I felt truly alive. After trying different jobs in offices and banks, I realized that teaching and creating art is what i was always meant to do. That journey taught me that our true selves often wait quietly for that courage to be seen and when we finally follow our passion, we find where we truly belong.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could speak to my younger self, I would say: Be brave to follow your path. Your dreams are real, your spark is powerful, and it will guide you to a life full of purpose, courage, and joy. From that child to the person your are now, you never gave up, and through every challenge, you have made your parents proud.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Teaching art is my lifelong commitment , no matter how long it takes, when we act sincerely from the heart, without deceiving ourselves or others, the good we create is never wasted. Growth takes time some things come quickly, others slowly but every effort leaves a lasting impact. Through art, I hope to help others discover their own voice, courage, and confidence, and to feel the joy and freedom that comes from creating something truly their own.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will remember me as someone who used her art, her heart, and her time to lift others. I hope the children and communities I’ve taught and supported grow into kind, courageous, and resilient human beings who understand joy, gratitude, compassion, and perseverance.
Through my teaching and my art, I’ve always tried to help people see their own strength, their potential, and own strength, their potential and the beauty within their stories. If anything of me remains, I hope it lives on in the confidence, creativity, and hope carried forward by those I’ve touched.
More than recognition, I want to be remember for kindness for contributing to a world with more peace, respect, and understanding. A world where people look beyond race, color, or background and live together with love, like one family. If my efforts helped build even a small part of that, then that is the story I hope people will tell about me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://colorsofcambodia.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorsofcambodia2003?igsh=MWttdHlkbGJ1eWg3dg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bw5oFcjKE/?mibextid=wwXIfr , https://www.facebook.com/share/1M6SDyw1qn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
All the images taken by Sophany Sor
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
