In this series, we profile the graduating students who have been handpicked to deliver a speech and presentation at the jingkids Graduate Summit 2022.
Olivia Li was born in New Jersey to Chinese-American parents, and returned to Beijing to begin her formal schooling. When she started first grade at Tsinghua International School (THIS) she became withdrawn and insecure around her peers, but you wouldn’t know it when you meet this young woman today.
“I was shy and scared when I returned to China. It sounds cliche, but it took joining the Speech & Debate Club and taking part in several speech tournaments before I began to step out of my shell. Then I really started to find my voice and gain self-confidence,” shares Olivia. “I also have to thank a few of my teachers, with whom I forged strong relationships based on mutual respect. There was one teacher in particular who told me not to be so hard on myself, and who helped encourage me in tough times.”
Olivia’s positive energy is apparent even as we chat on the phone after an entire day spent at school. She readily answers all my questions, even as I go off of the initial list of questions I had sent her the day before. Looking at the list of oratorical awards she’s achieved during her high school career – which include an NSDA Beijing Regionals Original Oratory Champion title, I can already picture her on campus, making a big speech at a rally to invoke change for the better.
That’s one of the reasons Olivia applied to Georgetown University to study sociology – a field her burgeoning interest in social activism seems to be pointing her towards. As part of the pioneering group of students who have campaigned for Period Positivity on her school campus, Olivia saw firsthand how real change could be effected, and is eager to learn more on the subject.
Perhaps another catalyst for her choice was her school trip back in ninth grade, when she visited Yunnan and had an eye-opening experience staying with the 景颇族 (Jǐngpǒ zú) people, where she got to really bond with one young child in particular. “Seeing what real problems they face made me truly realise how much I have in life and how fortunate I am to have the opportunities I get,” Olivia revealed.
And opportunity is what awaits her at college; opportunity to “immerse in a more liberal culture where diversity of thought is welcome.” That aside, Olivia chose Georgetown for its location in America’s capital city, where she feels social change is prevalent. She also favors a smaller institute compared to bigger universities. “I prefer a tight-knit community where I can just pop into class and have a casual chat with my teachers.”
Since she’s not required to declare a major until the end of her first year of college, she’s excited to explore all her options, including political economy, which, “as an interdisciplinary field, seems like the best of both worlds.” She’s also considering Gender and Sexuality Studies, but perhaps as a minor instead of a major. That’s what college is for, and for Olivia, the possibilities are just beginning.
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Images: Courtesy of Olivia Li
