Olivia Rogers is nearing the end of her senior year, though she admits it still doesn't quite feel real. When she was a freshman, seniors seemed like a distant species—older, different, finished. Now she walks the same halls as one of them and feels mostly unchanged, as if the years passed quietly, shaping her without announcing themselves. The shift wasn't dramatic. It was gradual. A steady layering of perspective.

Olivia describes herself as a humanities student through and through. She is a reader, a writer, a thinker who gravitates toward language because it gives form to feelings that might otherwise remain tangled. Words matter to her. They offer proof that emotions are shared, that others have felt what you feel, and that experience can be named and understood.

That relationship with words naturally led her to the stage. Olivia has been involved in theater since she was seven years old. Over time, she has grown from ensemble roles into more prominent parts, finding confidence not just in performance, but in belonging. Theater, she explains, is a community before it is a production. Athletes, artists, introverts, and extroverts—all come together with a shared goal. Differences don't disappear, but they coexist.

One production in particular stands out: Rehearsal for Murder, a comedic murder mystery staged last year. The cast—including Sawyer Fletcher and Drew Carlson—was perfectly matched, and the experience left a lasting impression. It wasn't just about the laughs or the applause. It was about trust, showing up for one another night after night, knowing everyone had a role in making the whole thing work.

That understanding of shared responsibility extends into Olivia's vision for her future. She is currently considering a range of in-state options, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University, Illinois State University, and Monmouth College. She speaks thoughtfully about each, noting the differences in size, setting, and culture. Prestige doesn't dominate her thinking. Fit does.

Academically, Olivia is drawn toward social work, with a possible minor in criminal investigation. She is interested in becoming a victims' advocate, supporting individuals navigating domestic violence situations, legal systems, and moments of crisis. Her mother works adjacent to social services, running the Recharge Teen Center, a community space that supports teenagers—especially those in crisis—by offering safety, meals, and connection. Growing up alongside that work gave Olivia an early and honest view of vulnerability and resilience.

What distinguishes her most is not certainty, but adaptability. Olivia speaks openly about how her mindset has changed since freshman year. Once resistant to compromise—"If I had done this interview as a freshman," she says, "I would have said, oh, my God, I hate compromise. My way or the highway. My way or the highway."—She now values it deeply. Years spent in theater, choir, Madrigals, and collaborative spaces taught her that compromise isn't weakness. It's how collective work gets done.

That growth has also shaped the people she seeks out. Where difference once felt intimidating, it now feels instructive. Olivia is drawn to perspectives unlike her own, believing there is value in listening and learning rather than retreating into sameness. She credits that shift to experience—what she calls the "rock tumbler" of life—where edges are softened not by ease, but by friction.

Teachers have played an important role in that process. Olivia speaks with gratitude about Kevin Ferry, her choir teacher since sixth grade—legally blind, Allstate Honor choir runner, a choir teacher who looks like a football coach but is "just such a lovable guy"; Melissa Agar, her English teacher, director, and speech coach; and Robert Davis, another English teacher for whom she serves as TA. Davis talks to her about not starting over, but knowing that you have the ability to be whatever you want. Each offered something different—support, challenge, belief—but all left a lasting mark.

Family, too, is central. Both parents modeled empathy—her mother through Recharge, her father through his own work. Olivia grew up in a household defined by respect, alongside three brothers: Corbin, 29; Kaden, 21; and her twin, Elliot, a football star who is also, as she puts it, "a huge nerd." Though their interests may appear different from the outside, their bond is deep, grounded in shared values.

As Olivia looks ahead, she does so without fear of the unknown. She understands that plans evolve, that paths bend, and that not everything goes the way you expect. What matters is the ability to pivot with intention, to carry empathy forward, and to keep listening—to others, and to yourself.