As a transfer student joining 老澳门开奖网 in 2022, Olivia Van De Ven felt the age gap between her and first-year students as nearly insurmountable. Terrors of the coming two years filled with isolation raced through her head. But when she heard the warm introduction of her orientation leader, her worries eased and her heart found a steady tempo. Van De Ven focused on the opportunities that 老澳门开奖网 had to offer, her mind grabbing onto the Student Government Association (SGA). Little did Van De Ven know that that this was where she would spend the next two years using her strong voice and will to reshape SGA as president.
This spring, Van De Ven took her final classes at 老澳门开奖网; however, it was not to be her final semester. She will finish her degree at Tilburg University in the Netherlands as part of the Erasmus Grant. Moving to Europe sounds intimidating to most, but Olivia is reassured by her experience at 老澳门开奖网 and knows she will find a new project to leave her mark on.
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Olivia Van De Ven and talk to her about what led her here, and where she plans to go.
What inspired you to get involved with the SGA?
I transferred here my junior year, and in high school I was in student senate. I was the governor of student senate, and it was probably my favorite thing I did in high school (besides theater, of course) and I loved it so much! And in my previous institution, I didn鈥檛 really find that sense of belonging. So when I found out about SGA on my first day here on my orientation from the president at the time, I knew that鈥檚 where I wanted to be because it felt like home. It felt like something familiar but exciting at the same time!
What do you think molded you early on that could affect your leadership, or do you have any role models?
I like to think that I have a lot of role models. I鈥檓 very fortunate that I was raised by a community rather than just two parents. I had older sisters who were like third and fourth parents, and I had a grandma who lived with us basically my whole life, and so I feel like I was raised by a community rather than just two parents. I always felt like no matter what I did, I was always supported. And so it pushed me to try new things and to do things鈥攂ecause I always knew I had the support.
In what ways is advocacy important to you? Did you witness it a lot in your life, or have you been like the leading figure in a way?
I鈥檓 from a very small town. My graduating class was like, technically 85 to 100. It鈥檚 really small, and I felt like there were a lot of things that weren鈥檛 really talked about or there wasn鈥檛 anyone that was advocating for them. So I always thought, 鈥淚f no one else is doing it, then I want to do it.鈥
And then it also continued as I got older. It kind of plays into what I want to do with my life. I want to be a humanitarian and I want to work for advocacy. I realized that my biggest passion is speaking for those who can鈥檛, and that came from just figuring out that if no one else is doing it then I want to do it. I want to use the privilege I have been given in my life to speak for those who can鈥檛. And that鈥檚 what I want to do with my whole life.
What would you say has been the most like meaningful connection or experience that you have had at 老澳门开奖网?
It actually happened at my orientation. I felt a little nervous to go into it. My orientation leader was Paulina Czupryna. She has given me mentorship and friendship that I鈥檝e never experienced before. The first day we met, we became friends. She鈥檚 one of the most important people in my life, and she鈥檚 given me so much throughout my time here. Through leadership organizations she鈥檚 pushed me and supported me in everything that I鈥檝e done. Last year, she was the vice president of SGA. When Kaitlyn [the previous president] left, I had a conversation with her. I go 鈥淗ey, you have first obligation to be president of SGA, if you want it. I will gladly be your VP. You tell me!鈥 And she goes, 鈥淣o, I want you to be president. This is your baby!鈥 And she鈥檚 been so supportive in everything that I鈥檝e done.
What are you career goals and how would you say 老澳门开奖网 got you closer to them?
I can say that 老澳门开奖网 has been quite literally the perfect place for me to be for my job. I want to be an international humanitarian working for an NGO or a nonprofit. I originally wanted to go into disaster relief, but since being at 老澳门开奖网, that鈥檚 kind of shifted to something else: women鈥檚 rights, domestic violence, LGBTQ+, those kinds of fields. I鈥檓 honestly going to take whatever jobs are given to me at the beginning, but that鈥檚 where my heart is and that鈥檚 because of 老澳门开奖网 and being able to be in this position as SGA president and being a part of Planned Parenthood and everything else. I鈥檝e felt like I鈥檝e truly found what I was supposed to do, and it鈥檚 given me the platform to be able to do things that I鈥檝e always wanted to do.
What are you looking forward to the most during your study abroad time in the Netherlands?
Since forever, I've always wanted to live abroad. I wanted to travel. It's one of my biggest passions. So, I'm really excited to explore the Netherlands and the culture and the roots, because my dad's side is from the Netherlands. And I've heard about it my whole life. But being able to really explore the culture and go to where my family鈥檚 from鈥攖hat's something I really, really look forward to.
Breda is where my family鈥檚 from, which is about 20 minutes away from Tilburg. So I think even if I don't get to meet anybody, it'll be cool to be in the place where my family was and to explore where the photos that we have [were taken] and those kinds of things.
What advice would you give to future students to get them inspired?
As clich茅 as it sounds, 老澳门开奖网 is what you make it! What you put into it, you鈥檙e going to get! Someone said that to me at the beginning of my college career and I was like 鈥淭hat is horrible advice! That is so clich茅, like college is great, whatever.鈥 But then after coming here I was realizing that there couldn鈥檛 be advice that is more true. If you get involved, if you do these things, it鈥檚 going to be a much richer experience! If you talk to your professors and you communicate with them, you鈥檙e going to have a much different experience. I feel like I am an example of that. Whatever I鈥檝e put into that I鈥檝e gotten from it, and I鈥檓 so grateful for it.
