Where can you even begin with this girl? Maybe you can point to the way she refines herself in music, writing, and art, how she is full of both youthful whimsy and wisdom beyond her years, someone thoughtful, intelligent, adventurous, and unequivocally her own. You could talk to those who know her and hear a hundred different stories, each a tiny window into her world. There is so much to learn about, with, and from her, that even writing a short article about her is a daunting task. What would she do in this situation? Simple: she’d say, “It’s so over,” then make it happen anyways. With such wise words in mind, we proudly present to you the one and only Elizabeth Sobel!
Hark! Harp!
From the humblest of local venues to the grandest of concert halls, we would need at least two Elizabeths to make it to all the harp gigs she gets offered. For this one Sobel, harp is huge, and not only because it’s taller than her. Harpist fact: there are not many harp players in this world. Right off the bat, Elizabeth Sobel can do something you probably can’t, and amid Enloe’s vast existing pool of musical talent, she masterfully sets herself apart. Between her involvement in Enloe Orchestra, Triangle Youth Philharmonic, and numerous community orchestras (even one for handbells!), Elizabeth has graced all corners of the Raleigh area with her musical prowess. “She has an incredibly hard working attitude,” says Enloe Orchestra director Alice Ju, harping on Elizabeth’s exceptional dedication and disposition. “She brings her heart to rehearsals.” No matter where she goes, Elizabeth offers her full dedication both to her craft and the people around her. So, do yourself a favor and see Elizabeth perform when you get the chance—as she pulls the strings of her harp, she might just pull the strings of your heart!
Art is her Middle Name!
As her famous pseudonym, Elizabeth Alia Wooten “Art” Sobel, might imply, Liz knows a thing or two about visual art, involving herself in artistic endeavors all over the Raleigh area. As a seasoned member of the NCMA’s Teen Arts Council, she’s dedicated countless hours of her time to fostering a welcoming environment for the community of young artists.
“She takes a leadership role that isn’t exactly telling people what to do, but inviting them into a conversation,” says Sabrina Hurtado, advisor of the Teen Arts Council, adding that “she has an approachable demeanor,” something very valuable in making the council accessible to any and all. Leadership, communication, and friendship? Elizabeth was made for this! As her time on the council comes to a close, Hurtado concludes with this message: “You’re really good at observing your environment and the people around you, and in college you become a beginner again, so that skill will be such a pro for you.” They finish, “I wish you the best of luck!”
Would Anyone Like to Steal?
In wrangling 30 overconfident teenagers trying to steal Jeopardy points from each other, one girl with a goal and a thrifted AP stylebook remains unsurpassed. After a year on the Eagle’s Eye as a staff writer, Elizabeth rose to the role of news editor for her senior year, proving in that position to be a constructive editor and a remarkable leader, even among such a talented group of individuals. Her writing has range—one look at her backlog brings you from reporting on local politics to satirical advice guides and even college basketball podcasting, and that’s only scratching the surface. Her contributions to the publication have been monumental—it’s clear above all that Elizabeth truly has a passion for people.
“Elizabeth very much has developed her own charisma, her own confidence, her own style that I think people really respect,” says newspaper advisor Trudy Price-O’Neil. For her, Seeing Liz’s confidence grow through the role of news editor has been one of her favorite things to witness. In her three years of teaching Elizabeth, she’s seen her find her place as a distinct individual, finding an admirable balance between intelligence and worldliness, and always sharing with others her genuine self.
“I feel proud,” Price concludes. “I feel honored to have been a part of her journey, and I feel like she’s going to be a person who I look back at and will be able to say ‘oh wow, she was in my class! I taught her! I was a part of that.’”
So Long, Sobel
So, what’s next for Elizabeth Sobel? With such a diverse set of skills and a wonderful way with people, it’s no doubt that she will find success no matter where she goes or what she does. After high school, she’s going across an ocean to study archaeology at the University of Glasgow! In a time characterized by the melancholy of closure and completion, what could be more exciting than that? Scotland! Being friends with Elizabeth has been one of the best experiences we could have—it’s hard to imagine what we might be like if we had never known her. How can we not feel honored to be a part of her journey? It’s only just begun.
