Weekly Student Spotlight: Meet Olivia Wischmeyer
By Hillie Brumfield
“I believe that my role in CYL right now is still developing. I’m learning how to bond my passions with helping others around me. My dreams in life revolve around helping others, but with a cluttered schedule and so much on my mind, I think CYL is helping me find that not only can I start living now, but also helping me connect to so many wonderful organizations. I may not have the most hours volunteered or be the most outgoing, but I believe that CYL is helping me step out of my comfort zone.”
Meet Olivia Wischmeyer. A sixteen year-old 10th grader at East High School, whose passions include art, skiing, hiking, human rights, social sciences, world change, and of course, Colorado Young Leaders. When interviewing Olivia this week for CYL’s student spotlight, I wanted to make sure to pick her brain on what makes this organization so great and impactful in her life.
Olivia defines Colorado Young Leaders as a place where opportunity gives to more opportunities, inspiring teens to be the best they can be and enjoy living that way. CYL, to Olivia, is learning about yourself and what you can provide for others.
With that being said, I became curious. What exactly is it Olivia is learning and gaining from CYL? In her own words, “I have never been super competitive or confident. I dropped all my sports besides skiing after 7th grade. Teamwork had always scared me and being part of a group was quite the fright. But over the announcements one day at school, I head about a CYL information lunch meeting. So, I took a step out hoping that maybe, just maybe, this would be my place. It wasn’t easy to take the first couple steps, but I knew the only way to reach my dreams was to start joining groups with similar passions. As I started going to the meetings, I found that I was becoming inspired. What I found with CYL is that students were not all there to fill hours for school, but they were there to serve and help the people in the community… that has only inspired me more. CYL has been nothing short of a social challenge for me, but I have found that I am becoming that person I have always wanted to be.”
A person that loves, inspires, takes risks, dares, and believes, Olivia is helping Colorado Young Leaders and it’s mission just as much as she claims it’s helping her. She believes people should support CYL because not only are the intentions true, but the outcomes are as well. She knows, and believes, that Colorado Young Leaders is invested in a stable future, not just present change.
“My dreams are nowhere close to being set in stone, more like set in sinking sand, not even waiting for a tide to wash them away, just constantly being replaced. That’s one reason why CYL has helped me so much. My dreams for the future are constantly changing and being questioned by not only my family and friends but by myself. Over the past few years the one thing I have found is that I know that I need to help.”
When we asked Olivia of a quotation that really speaks to her as a leader, she replied, “To those whom much is given, much is expected.” –JFK
“Not only do I feel I owe the world everything I’ve got, but I feel called to change lives I know not of yet. CYL has taught me to start small. It’s easy to reach out far to a community and barely make an impact, but its right here at home in which people are of need too. I hope to become a person that I respect and believe in. My dreams are to be the best I can be. I dream to help people free from sex trafficking and give the opportunity of education to all, but I’m not there yet. That’s what CYL has shown me–I don’t have to wait– I can start now. It might not be the same but it’s changing me into who I hope to become in my future, and that’s what I think CYL is all about.”
Olivia is bold, courageous, young, and a leader. She believes in the impact Colorado Young Leaders is having, and does all she can to help be apart of that impact. She dares, and she’s not scared too. It’s shown in the way she lives her life.
To Olivia and all Young Leaders, we say WELL DONE! Continue to “Explore. Dream. Discover.” (Mark Twain)
By CYL Volunteer Writer & Staff: Hillie Brumfield
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If Olivia’s story didn’t touch you, you can read more about our Young Leaders on our Adventure blog, find pictures on our website and Facebook, or watch this video.
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