Topteen Fall Edition - Keaten Vale Cover

Hi everyone!
My name is Sophia, and I am the 17-year
old editor in chief and creator behind
Sophia Lia Mag, a mental health and
wellness magazine for teens.
As fancy as that title might sound, I am also just a regular 16-yearold
girl who started a project solely based on a passion. Ever
since I was little, I struggled with anxiety, and it was terrible. Going
through that while also seeing other people struggle with all
sorts of mental illnesses inspired the idea of creating an ensemble
of pieces to create one beautiful magazine. It is real, it's raw,
and it talks about people's truths.
In early 2020 when covid hit, I originally had the idea to start my
own magazine. Now let me make it clear that I had absolutely no
idea what I was doing (like at all to be fully transparent), and I was
scared! I was asking people to open up and talk about their vulnerabilities
to a public crowd and for a magazine that didn't even
exist at the time. So saying it was hard to get people to write in
my first issue is a bit of an understatement. However, after finally
coming out with the first edition in August '20, the response was
overwhelming, and for that, I will forever be grateful. We had people
reading the magazine from all over the world, and I was also
receiving article/story submissions from all over the world. Now, a
year later, I am so thrilled to tell you that the magazine has had 5
million views in over 100 countries globally in the past 13 months.
Top Teen: What is your #1 piece of advice for anyone struggling with their mental health?
Sophia: The best thing you can do if you're struggling is to speak out. It doesn't matter if that's to a friend,
a parent, a therapist, a coach, or anyone in between, but the minute you can get that off your chest, I promise
you'll feel better. It's not always easy to admit you're struggling, but try your best to remember that
it's never something to be ashamed of, and you're not alone. So many people love and care about you, and
they will do anything to help you. If you feel entirely alone, kids help phone is a fantastic resource to talk to
someone and get really good advice. In addition, remember my DMS are always open as well for you!
Top Teen: How many hours do you put alone into producing one edition of Sophia Lia Magazine?
Sophia: About 300 hours. And yes, every single minute is more than worth it.
Top Teen: Where do you get all your motivation from? Do you ever feel a lack of motivation?
Sophia: I'm not going to sit here and lie to everyone by saying I always jump out of bed every morning full of
motivation and energy. Because honestly, that's not the reality of it. Motivation comes and goes in waves,
and it's okay to take breaks and rest up sometimes when you feel a lack of motivation. For me, however, my
motivation to work hard and keep going is the impact. Thinking about who I'm helping and the big picture.
Sometimes, it can be easy to feel tired and like things are moving slow, and when that happens to me, I like
to sit back and remind myself of my WHY. My why is because I've been there in a dark place, and I know others
have been too, and I want to help. I want to advocate and show people that they aren't alone in struggling
with mental health. That right there gets me up every single day. Find your purpose, the thing you live
for and love most, and all of a sudden, the lack of motivation will fade, trust me.
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