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As a transfer student joining �������� 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 �������� had to offer, her mind grabbing onto the Student Government Association (SGA). Little did Van De Ven know 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 ��������; 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 �������� 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’t 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’s 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’m 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—because 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’m from a very small town. My graduating class was like, technically 85 to 100. It’s really small, and I felt like there were a lot of things that weren’t really talked about or there wasn’t anyone that was advocating for them. So I always thought, “If no one else is doing it, then I want to do it.”

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’t, 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’t. And that’s 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 ��������?

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’ve never experienced before. The first day we met, we became friends. She’s one of the most important people in my life, and she’s given me so much throughout my time here. Through leadership organizations she’s pushed me and supported me in everything that I’ve done. Last year, she was the vice president of SGA. When Kaitlyn [the previous president] left, I had a conversation with her. I go “Hey, you have first obligation to be president of SGA, if you want it. I will gladly be your VP. You tell me!” And she goes, “No, I want you to be president. This is your baby!” And she’s been so supportive in everything that I’ve done. 

What are you career goals and how would you say �������� got you closer to them?

I can say that �������� 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 ��������, that’s kind of shifted to something else: women’s rights, domestic violence, LGBTQ+, those kinds of fields. I’m honestly going to take whatever jobs are given to me at the beginning, but that’s where my heart is and that’s because of �������� and being able to be in this position as SGA president and being a part of Planned Parenthood and everything else. I’ve felt like I’ve truly found what I was supposed to do, and it’s given me the platform to be able to do things that I’ve 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’s from—that's something I really, really look forward to. 

Breda is where my family’s 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 cliché as it sounds, �������� is what you make it! What you put into it, you’re going to get! Someone said that to me at the beginning of my college career and I was like “That is horrible advice! That is so cliché, like college is great, whatever.” But then after coming here I was realizing that there couldn’t be advice that is more true. If you get involved, if you do these things, it’s going to be a much richer experience! If you talk to your professors and you communicate with them, you’re going to have a much different experience. I feel like I am an example of that. Whatever I’ve put into that I’ve gotten from it, and I’m so grateful for it.