Student Spotlight: Olivia Williams

14-year-old Olivia Williams is from the Cabrini Green neighborhood of Chicago. She attends Jenner Elementary Academy of the Arts and her favorite subject is math because it’s easy. She likes art class, too, because it gives her a chance to be creative. She likes to draw things such as cartoons or designs of her own name. She struggles with science but plans to get better by paying attention in class and taking notes. Also working in her favor, she is intrigued by their next hands-on project: frog dissection!

In a few years, it will be time for high school, and Olivia has her sights set on Lincoln Park. She’s unsure about college, but, in the long run, she thinks she wants to be a teacher. What inspires her to take up the call? She’s had a lot of bad teachers. She wishes they were more fun and playful and that is how she hopes to be. With her constant smile and quiet laugh, she’s well on her way.

Olivia heard about Cabrini Connections through her older sister, Dominique Dobbs, who graduated in 2009. Though last year was her first in the program, Olivia made a lasting impact; most notably, by submitting the 2009-2010 theme: “Hope, Build, Believe, & Achieve.” She also qualified for our annual Six Flags trip last summer and had a lot of fun. This year, she has already taken advantage of a field trip to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In fact, her tip for students is to “take advantages of activities offered here.” We go on at least one field trip a month, so be on the lookout!

Olivia meets with her mentor, Susan Garver, on Wednesday nights and they usually work on math and social studies. Olivia says she is “pretty awesome,” “intelligent,” and “fun to be with.” Sounds like a good match! We are happy to hear that things are going well. Congratulations on being in the spotlight!