Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/695013
52 KIDS BAY AREA NEWS GROUP wheresheregalesviewerswith tales of beauty, art and cuteness. "But sometimes I wish that I could be older because I feel like I am on the edge of being a kid, and I want to be more sophisti - cated." Her mother, Lisa Beyer, agrees. "The awkward tween seems mostly a cliche to me these days, although I recall feeling and being very awkward when I was Sophia's age," Beyer says. "Sophia and her cohorts really don't seem awkward in their intellect, behav - ior or appearance. There can be awkwardness, however, in how we adults interact with tweens, finding the right (or wrong) spot on the kid-to-teen spectrum in various situations." DEFININGWHOYOUARE when your identity is in flux can be tricky. Schilb says the best way to avoid feeling like you don't fit in is to be fully engaged in life. "I like to be up and about. I don't like to be sitting around staring at a phone. I don't even have a phone," she says, sitting cross-legged on a chair. "I have lots of things to do." While some kids may feel overbooked with all the various "enrichment" activities children are expected to take part in these days, be they sports or clubs or volunteer work, Schilb says stay - ing active keeps her from getting stressed out. This way, too, she doesn't have all her eggs in one basket. "It helps to be part of things that are bigger than you," she says. "I'm so involved in my extra - curriculars, I don't get sucked into all the drama at school." For her, that means dividing her off time between soccer, the - ater and dance. She's an old hand at Children's Musical Theater San Jose, where she has performed in eight shows over the years. Her experience there has helped her