This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Olivia Graves from Powell High School in Tennessee. Nominator Beth Mooney wrote:
In my time working with Olivia, I have had the pleasure of witnessing their exceptional qualities in leadership, organization, empathy, and their ability to make a meaningful difference in their community. As a freshman, Olivia knew she wanted to make a difference at the school and decided to run for Student Council. She was elected her freshman year; however, she was intimidated by the number of students within the school which led to her being quiet and reserved. Her sophomore year, Olivia decided to take our Leadership Class which led her on the journey to finding her voice and self-confidence. From the very start, Olivia demonstrated outstanding organizational skills. Whether managing academic responsibilities or coordinating extracurricular activities, she consistently exhibits a high level of efficiency and focus. Olivia always looks for solutions where she sees there could be improvement. She has achieved this by being selected for our Student Advisory Council for two years, being a lead student ambassador for our school, and being selected to serve on the student strategy council for our school board. Olivia has a passion for helping others, advocating for those who may not have a voice and creating a welcoming environment for all. Her latest achievement was being selected to serve as a junior commissioner seat at large. This new journey has solidified Olivia’s confidence and passion for servant leadership. I have witnessed Olivia over her four years here at Powell, and she has found her place and voice of making a difference within the school and community. I have no doubt that she will continue to make a significant difference in her future endeavors.
What are you involved with at your school?
Yearbook editor, leadership and Renaissance, student advisory council, president for SGA, youth strategy council for Knox County schools, YoungLife, Special Olympics, and National Honors Society
What is something you appreciate about your school’s culture?
My school’s culture is so close. Everyone knows everyone and you don’t walk in the hallway with out being spoken to by a peer or a teacher. Something I think some adults forget to understand is that as a staff member, they are the pure foundation of the school. How they walk into class in the mornings sets the tone and at Powell each staff member comes here with an open mind to hear students out and with open arms hold their students close and love them each day.
What’s a favorite Renaissance moment for you?
My favorite Renaissance moment was at PHS Freshman orientation. Renaissance always heads up the freshman orientation, and this year was my third time doing it. We collaborated as a group and discussed ways to make it better. Sometimes it’s hard to get students, especially freshmen, who are nervous and anxious involved. I came up with the idea to do a Powell High School scavenger hunt: a way for students to have to find landmarks and teachers so they could ultimately more easily navigate their way through school. It was a hit and every student loved it. The scavenger hunt helped them communicate with their peers and the upperclassman tour guides, and it was the first step in making them feel apart of Powell. It made them feel ownership and already more comfortable with teachers and the lay out of the school. I hope it is something Powell continues to do.
How has Renaissance affected you personally?
Renaissance has made me feel a part of something much bigger than myself. I feel connected to a community of leaders, change makers and people who will lead the way. To one day make an impact as much as some of the speakers and mentors in my life is something I dream of, and Renaissance has taken that dream and turned it into something real, and a future I can see for myself.
What’s something you are “All In” for inside and outside of school?
I am all in for community engagement outside of school. It is often misunderstood by my classmates that what we do does not matter, but that could not be further from the truth. I recently was given the opportunity to be a Junior Commissioner. The program has taught me what it is like to be in my community and it has shown me how much people care, but most importantly how we all should aspire to care. I hope to one day see my peers “all in” for the community that we live in each day that is much bigger than us and our school. I am all in for fellow students. I have attended multiple Renaissance events and I will never forget my first one. On display was a quote “the child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” I will never forget that and it is something I live by daily. I wish more people could understand this to it’s true depth. I am all in for every student and every person.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to build self-confidence?
Advice I would give to someone who is looking to build their self-confidence would be to put yourself out there and meet new people and discover that you have interest and qualities that you never even knew you had because you were staying in a controlled environment and somewhere you felt comfortable in. I have gained confidence in myself because I’ve put myself in places I did not think I would succeed, but later did.
Oliva will receive a water bottle and a decal in recognition of her achievement.