Sophie Muir-Taylor has been teaching American Literature and Media and Journalism at Carmel Christian for 3 years. Though her time at Carmel has been short, her impact on the students she had will last forever. Muir-Taylor’s kindness and ability to make each student feel loved and welcome has positively impacted the entire Carmel community. She has truly been a blessing to the CCS family, and the students and teachers are so appreciative that her path led her to Carmel.

Muir-Taylor grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and is incredibly fond of her hometown. She lived on a 20-acre piece of land with her family and explains how blessed she was to have grown up in that area. Muir-Taylor states, “My siblings and I grew up outdoors. We spent time hiking, we had a bunch of animals and we had a garden. My mom was very enthusiastic about us being outside all the time.” She has been passionate about the outdoors her entire life, and her childhood is evidence of that. She explains, “I’m so inspired by nature. I gravitate towards the natural world, and I always have. I just like to be outside and surrounded by things that are bigger than me. I just love animals. I love little creatures. I love little details. I’m inspired by just paying attention to small things.”

Muir-Taylor, the youngest of four, grew up alongside her three older siblings: Tom, Georgia and Genie. Her two sisters are currently living in Greenville, while her brother is still living in Birmingham. Muir-Taylor’s parents are also currently living in Birmingham in her childhood home, spending time on their land and raising chickens and their dog. Her parents have helped shape her into who she is today. Muir-Taylor states, “I get to go back to Birmingham a good bit, and I love it a lot. My siblings are close to me in age which is super fun because that made us have very close relationships and made trips to Birmingham so enjoyable.”

After high school, Muir-Taylor decided to follow alongside the rest of her family’s footsteps and attend The University of Alabama. She remembers her time in college fondly. She was incredibly involved in life there through many different ways such as being in a sorority, being an ambassador for the Honors College and coaching a basketball team at a local school through Younglife. She was heavily involved in her local Younglife, creating both relationships with her team she worked with, and the high schoolers she spent years with. This sparked her interest in mentoring and pouring into high school students, that she would carry out into her next season of life through her time teaching students.

Not only this, but she was also heavily involved with the English Department. She was involved with a plethora of classes and professors there. Additionally, she enjoyed spending time with her friends and getting to know her classmates. The memories she holds closest to her heart are from her junior and senior years. Muir-Taylor explains, “I loved my house so much that I lived in junior and senior year. I lived with six girls, and it was kind of the hub where all of our friends would come. We had a cute yellow door, and we would all hang out on the porch and sit in the front yard. Those were all core memories for me.”

After she graduated college, Muir-Taylor felt like the Lord was leading her towards teaching. She knew that she wanted to move from Alabama and explored a wide range of locations until settling on North Carolina.  This led her to interview for a teaching job at Carmel. Muir-Taylor said, “Carmel reminded me a lot of the high school that I went to in Birmingham, and so I kind of felt a tug towards the students here, because I knew it was like to go to like a private Christian school, and  the pressures and the expectations and the chaos that can come from being here. So I felt a pull towards students here versus the other schools that I had interviewed at.”

Muir-Taylor teaches literature and journalism as it is what she studied in college. “I love American literature. It’s my favorite thing ever. I love the books we get to read, and I love teaching sophomores,” Muir-Taylor said. She particularly enjoys her American Literature class as she gets to read many rich, thought provoking books with her class. The students even get to act out some of the scenes due to the dramatic nature of the texts. Muir-Taylor also runs The Blue and Gold, advising and leading the journalists, teaching them many important life skills.

Muir-Taylor has a passion for many things outside of her work as a teacher. She adores reading and writing, as displayed by her choice in education and employment. She also spends a lot of time outside, traveling, running and hiking any chance that she can get. Muir-Taylor has been able to nurture that love of running in younger runners, as she has served as the Carmel middle school cross country team assistant coach for two years.

She enjoys taking these hobbies around the world, exploring as much of the planet God has given as she can. Muir-Taylor has tried her best to travel and explore different places with the people she cares most about. She has also loved the environment of North Carolina and the lush landscape that she has been able to experience. “Nature is my favorite place to be… I just love being outside. Quite literally, that’s my main hobby,” said Muir-Taylor.

She is often inspired by the authors that she reads. Specifically, Muir-Taylor admires Mary Oliver as one of her favorite poets. Muir-Taylor said, “she always emphasizes paying attention and the beauty of like being in the moment.” Words and nature have always been Muir-Taylor’s greatest inspirations. “I just cling to words a lot, words of other people, words of obviously, authors, words from the Bible, words from God… I’m an inspired person,” Muir-Taylor said.

Muir-Taylor is an inspiring member of the Carmel community as she has connected with many members of the student body. She is a light in the community that shines bright with the spirit of the Lord.