This is the twenty-seventh installment in our series on exceptional youth where we celebrate the outstanding achievements of youth in the Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding. As we commence this chapter in our series we have chosen to celebrate the accomplishments of two sisters in Oak Bay, Olivia and Anna Friesen. These inspirational young adults are enriching our lives with their passion and commitment to the betterment of society.

Olivia Friesen

Although many younger siblings would feel overwhelmed by the pressure of having an older sister as accomplished as Anna Friesen, Olivia has elected to view her older sister as a role model while still managing to distinguish herself as a different but no less remarkable young individual.

In grade nine Olivia obtained marks of 100% in Social Studies and Science, 99% in math, and 96% in English. This past year, she followed up her incredible academic performance in her freshman year with an overall average in the upper 90s.

Like her older sister, Olivia is a multidimensional athlete who has found success in nearly every sport she has decided to attempt. Last season, Olivia played on Oak Bay’s elite U16 Vancouver Island Premiere League team (which won their division) and was an important part of the high school junior girls’ team. She is also an excellent field hockey player who is a valuable member of school’s team and has been chosen to participate in the Rising Stars Elite Training Program. To top it off, Olivia runs the 100, 200, and 400 metre dash for the school’s track and field team and competes in long jump, triple jump, and pole vault.

When she was in grade five, Olivia began playing the cello and has evolved to become an integral part of the Oak Bay High School Orchestra. In grade 9, her hard work and dedication was acknowledged by the Orchestra who decided to give her the Most Improved Strings Player Award. Additionally, while at Monterey Middle School, Olivia decided to take up playing the trumpet and is a now a member of the Oak Bay High School Concert Band.

Despite her young age, Olivia has found numerous ways to give back to the local community and is an active member of the school’s environment club. This past year she helped to organize the rubber ducky race, volunteered as a Christmas gift wrapper for the Mustard Seed, and served as a volunteer for the school’s annual Cops for Cancer campaign. In previous years, Olivia has participated in restoration projects at Bowker Creek and Anderson Hill Park. When she was in grade nine, she was one of just six students in her year selected to participate in the Live Different program and would have travelled down to Mexico during spring break to build two houses for disadvantaged families if not for COVID-19.

As her membership in the school’s environment club would indicate, Olivia is interested in climate change and conservation which she may pursue academically down the road in university. In line with her interests in environmental science, she cites science teacher Derek Schubsole as positive academic influence in her life.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Olivia has done her best to stay positive and keep a daily routine, but like many others, misses the personal interactions that form an important part of her everyday life. She’s looking forward to the start of the new school year after spending the summer working in the Kiwanis Willows Tea room.

Given her personal drive and natural talent in so many different areas, we believe that Olivia is destined to continue being a high achiever whose work impacts the lives of numerous others.