ACM Scholar Spotlights: Sofia Pinto
Welcome to ACM Scholar Spotlights, a series where we shine a light on the inspiring paths of women in computing who received the 2024 ACM-W scholarship. Through their own words, we hear how they found their place in tech, what motivates them, and how they’re making an impact. These stories reflect not only technical achievement, but also courage, curiosity, and community.
In this post, we hear from Sofia Pinto whose creativity spans poetry and programming, art and algorithms. Her story is a powerful reminder that technology isn’t just about code—it’s also about expression, imagination, and impact.
How It Started
Could you imagine being fond of algorithm design, poetry, front-end development, drawing, database management—and so much more? Welcome to my life!
My initial encounter with computing happened when I was about 12 years old. I had a technology subject at school that I found really… uninteresting. It was purely theoretical, and I couldn’t see its practical value.
On the other hand, I was passionate about the arts. My alone time was mostly spent writing poetry or drawing, and for a long time, I believed I wanted to be an architect when I grew up.
Ironically, some years later, I chose to pursue a degree in Informatics and Computing Engineering—which surprised many of my acquaintances. I can’t say I was particularly interested in computing at that time. I just thought it would be fun to experiment with something that was still unknown to me.
The summer before starting university, I taught myself the basics of Python and had a blast learning at my own pace. This endeavour assured me that programming would be an interesting challenge to tackle.
How It Is Going
Currently, I have just finished my bachelor’s degree and am preparing to start my master’s degree (after a well-deserved vacation). In the meantime, I have not confined my education to the classroom.
Always eager to take on new challenges, I’ve actively sought opportunities to grow and expand my knowledge across a wide range of areas. I’ve participated in various group projects focusing on topics from sustainability to autonomous driving. I’ve also attended two conferences, including womENcourage, where I not only expanded my network but also gained valuable insights from people with the most distinguished backgrounds.
At the same time, I’m working on writing a poetry book themed around freedom.
Notice, however, that all of this came with its downsides. Constantly being involved in different activities—often juggling multiple ones simultaneously—has led to stress and burnout. Despite these challenges, I remain committed to balancing my pursuits and continuing to grow both personally and professionally.
How It Will (Hopefully) Be
In the future, I hope to find a healthy way to manage my stress levels. I’m confident that this small change will significantly improve both my mental health and productivity.
I plan to apply some techniques from my favorite womENcourage 2024 workshop—“Growth Mindset and Resilience: Thriving Through Setbacks”—to help heal from the inside out.
Furthermore, I am keen to continue getting involved in multiple projects to broaden my knowledge. I aspire to integrate my two passions—art and technology—into my work, with the intent of creating a more pleasant, sustainable, and peaceful world.