When Sophia Sherwood walks into Waterside’s Street Level Cycles after school, she steps into more than a workplace. She steps into a community grounded in skill-building, connection, and purpose.
A junior at El Cerrito High School, Sophia first learned about Waterside Workshops through a friend she mountain biked and raced with. She applied for an internship last fall and quickly found herself immersed in the rhythm of the shop: tools in hand, bikes in repair stands, teammates collaborating, customers rolling in and out.
What struck her most from the beginning was the culture.
“I think the community is the biggest thing. Everybody here is super supportive.”
That sense of support matters. Though Sophia has been riding nearly her whole life and racing since sixth grade, she says working in the shop expanded her skills in ways she did not expect. She came in with some basics, but quickly realized how much there was to learn, and just how empowering it felt to keep building her knowledge.
Over time, she learned to complete full bike builds, assist customers in finding the right fit, and help younger riders get rolling. There is a particular pride in seeing a project through from start to finish.
“If I’m able to complete a bike build or help a customer buy a bike — especially a younger kid — that feels really good.”
In a city like Berkeley, where bikes are a primary form of transportation, that work is not just technical. It is community care. Sophia understands that helping someone repair or purchase a bike can mean helping them get to school, to work, or simply out into the world.
She has also grown into mentoring newer interns, modeling the same work ethic that shaped her, and has some advice to share with those who might be considering applying for an internship.
“You’re going to have to put in work. But if you put in effort, you can get a lot out of it.”
That mindset is already carrying her into an extraordinary next chapter.
This August through December, Sophia will study and ride in Italy, France, and South Africa through World Class Academy, a global high school program that combines academics with daily training in a chosen sport. Teachers serve as coaches. Classrooms span continents. Students train and study side by side.
For a mountain biker who has been racing for years, it is a remarkable opportunity. She will spend the first semester of her senior year immersed in riding, learning, and seeing the world through a wider lens.
And she is ready.
Sophia represents what Waterside is all about. Showing up after school. Learning by doing. Supporting peers. Building real-world skills. Discovering that your effort matters.
We are incredibly proud to have Sophia on our team—and we cannot wait to see where her wheels take her next.
