Today we’d like to introduce you to Noelia Soto.
Hi Noelia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to create, and every decision I’ve made since then has revolved around that passion. When I was 13, I discovered that animation was something you could actually study—and I knew instantly that it was my dream career. At the same time, I had another dream: studying abroad. That goal stayed with me until my senior year of high school when I had to make a choice—was I really going to go for it? And I did.
With the support of my family, friends, art and english teacher; T. Fabi and T. Sussy (whom I’ll be eternally grateful for), I put together my portfolio and submitted my application. T. Fabi helped me select my best work and they both wrote my recommendation letters, and a month later, I got my acceptance letter.
Moving abroad didn’t scare me. What scared me was the thought that I might not be “creative” or “artistic” enough for the program. That fear followed me all the way to graduation day. But at VFS, I learned something more valuable than technique or skill—I learned to work through my fear of not being good enough. I made a commitment to myself after graduation: to keep creating, no matter what, even if it scared me.
After VFS, I set out to find my true passion. Film is always the first answer that comes to mind, so when I returned to Costa Rica, I started studying film production. Now, I’m still on that journey. Film, in all its forms, is my passion, but every day I discover new things I’m interested in—and new things I’m good at.
Right now, I’m in a phase of exploration. I’m about to turn 21, and I’m excited for everything I have yet to discover about myself and what I love to do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Thanks to my friends and family, I have the privilege of saying that, overall, it has been a smooth road; I’m incredibly grateful for the support I have. Of course, there have been challenges along the way. As an anxious person, many of my struggles come from my own mind—self-doubt has always been a constant companion.
Deciding to study abroad wasn’t just a dream; it was a huge commitment, both to my parents and to myself. It was incredibly exciting but also overwhelming. And when I returned home, a new wave of uncertainty hit me— What would I do next?
That’s when I learned that following your dreams means embracing uncertainty
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my day-to-day, I work primarily as a video editor, specializing in both long-form and short-form content, mostly for social media. However, beyond editing, my personal projects are deeply rooted in documentary filmmaking. I take my camera everywhere, capturing the essence of everyday life—because what’s “ordinary” looks different for everyone, and that’s what fascinates me; what I say sets me apart from others is that at the core of everything I do is a deep curiosity about people and their stories. One of the projects I’m most proud of is a photographic essay exploring materal heritage , a deeply personal piece because I used my family as models and the essay reflects my passion for documenting maternal connections.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is finding peace within yourself—trusting your ability to make choices that align with your values and having the commitment to live life on your own terms, knowing you have the power to achieve what you set out to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://noeliasoto.my.canva.site/noelia-soto
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noeliasotocez/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noeliasotocez
Image Credits
Noelia Soto