She Dared Senator Clinton To Run, Urges Others To Fight for Their Dreams

At the time, Sofia Totti probably didn't realize the power of the words she whispered five years ago. Now that she understands their impact, she is thrilled with the unexpected role she played in the history of American politics.

In 1999, Ms. Totti's high school, the Lab School in Chelsea, was host to a special screening of the HBO film "Dare to Compete," celebrating the role of women in sports. A ceremony featured tennis great Billie Jean King and Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes. Hillary Clinton was invited as a guest speaker.

As captain of the school's basketball team, Ms. Totti was selected to introduce the first lady. Recalling the great speculation swirling in New York at the time about Mrs. Clinton's possible Senate run, Ms. Totti said she decided her speech would be the perfect opportunity for a little encouragement. As Mrs. Clinton took the stage, Ms. Totti, a native New Yorker, told the audience that Mrs. Clinton was an athlete, too: "hopefully a runner."

"Mrs. Clinton came to shake my hand and gave me a smile, acknowledging my comment," Ms. Totti said. Still clutching the first lady's hand, she whispered, "Dare to compete, Mrs. Clinton. Dare to compete." Her challenge has since been credited with motivating Mrs. Clinton's successful campaign.

Ms. Totti developed an interest in social and political issues early, with dinnertime conversations with her father, Xavier, an anthropologist. After high school, Ms. Totti went on to study inter national relations and Spanish literature at Tufts University near Boston. After graduating last year, she began her career in publishing. Now 23, she is a merchandising editor at Seventeen magazine.

Mrs. Clinton did not forget Ms. Totti's words. In 2001, during a commencement address to the graduating class at Yale, Mrs. Clinton spoke of the inspirational message while recalling her struggle to decide whether or not to run for the Senate.

"I took that to heart because it is hard to compete sometimes, especially in public ways, when your failures are there for everyone to see and you don't know what is going to happen from one day to the next," the first term senator said. "And yet so much of life, whether we like to accept it or not, is competing with ourselves to be the best we can be."

In her memoir, "Living History," Mrs. Clinton remembers the moment Ms. Totti's words changed her life: "Her comment caught me off guard, so much so that I left the event and began to think: Could I be afraid to do something I had urged countless other women to do? Why am I vacillating about taking on this race? Why aren't I thinking more seriously about it? Maybe I should 'dare to compete.' "

So now that she knows the part she played in the Senate run, is Ms. Totti satisfied with the results? Ms. Totti said that she wishes Mrs. Clinton would pay more attention to critical issues such as health care. "Other than that," the young woman said, "I think she's done a wonderful job, especially in the wake of September 11.

"She's proved to be a tremendous senator here in New York, and I hope to see her back in 2006, and perhaps someplace else in 2008," Ms. Totti said.

As for her own aspirations, Ms. Totti said she is particularly interested in the state of the European Union and "trans-continental relations."

Whatever path she chooses, it's a safe bet that she won't hold back.

"I think a lot of people don't fight for their dreams because of fear," Ms. Totti said. "Whether it be fear of the unknown or fear of rejection, many people remain stagnant and refrain from challenging themselves.

"Always dare to compete," she said. "Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don't, but there is always something to be gained from the challenge."