My name is Sophie Raimondo, and I’ve been accepted into the Spirituality Mind Body (SMB) master’s Program at Teachers College, Columbia University—a pioneering and interdisciplinary graduate program that weaves together science, spirituality, and social impact to transform the way we heal, learn, and lead.

 

This opportunity is the culmination of years of lived experience, academic dedication, and meaningful engagement with communities across the globe. Over the past several years, I’ve lived and learned, in Mexico, Tanzania, Nepal, Madagascar, Thailand, and Hong Kong, immersing myself in diverse cultures, spiritual traditions, and grassroots movements for justice and healing. I graduated with honors in Social Sciences, focusing on social justice, decolonization, and human rights. Yet throughout my journey, I came to a profound realization: knowledge alone is not enough. What’s missing in many of our systems is a deeper, embodied understanding of how we heal, reconnect, and lead from within.

 

In a world increasingly fractured, where so many feel disconnected from their bodies, from one another, and from a sense of purpose, I am committed to responding with compassion-driven, research-informed, and integrative approaches that honor the science of healing individually and collectively.

 

Why the Spirituality Mind Body (SMB) Program?

The SMB program at TC-Columbia offers a rare and rigorous training at the intersection of:

• Neuroscience and trauma-informed psychology

• Spirituality and consciousness studies grounded in scientific research

• Embodied leadership and contemplative practice

• Social-emotional learning, healing-centered education, and personal growth

This program is not about managing symptoms. It is about understanding the root of suffering and cultivating new pathways of individual, and collective healing.

 

What I’ve Done to Get Here

In the past year, I’ve worked more than 230 hours per month across different jobs and saved every penny. I’ve lived with minimal expenses and applied to every scholarship and funding opportunity available.

I have already secured:

• A fellowship award through Columbia

• A federal work-study position

• Partial merit-based financial support

Despite all efforts, I still face a remaining gap of more than 45,000$ to cover tuition and essential living costs while studying part-time in New York.

 

How Can You Support?

• Donate: Every single penny means the world to me and will go directly toward tuition and living costs.

• Share: Help me reach others who believe in transforming the way we heal, lead, and connect

 

Full Transparency

To ensure clarity and accountability, I’ve made the following documents publicly available:

• Financial Overview

• Why I Have Chosen Not to Take on Federal Student Loans

• Family Financial Circumstances

 

A Personal Thank You

To thank those who support this journey, I’ll be sharing an original 28-Day Kindness Journal—a daily reflection tool I created to inspire more compassion, connection, and intentional living.

 

This journey is not mine alone. It is part of a larger vision for building a more conscious, inclusive, and healing-centered world. Your support—whether through a donation, kind words, or sharing this page—means more than I can express.

 

With gratitude and hope,

Sophie Raimondo