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Scholastic Student Spotlight: Pinecrest grad wants to fight inequality in film industry
Olivia Jenkins
Olivia Jenkins

Name: Olivia Jenkins

School: Pinecrest Academy

Grade: Graduated Class of 2017

GPA: 4.16


Classes: AP Scholar.

Next steps: Attending American University of Paris this fall to double-major in international business and film

In school: Vice president of National Honor Society; secretary of Hispanic National Honors Society; co-founded two school clubs — Spanish Club as a sophomore, continuing to lead it through the rest of high school and the Devil’s Advocate Debate Club as a senior; wrote and helped edit the school newspaper, The Excalibur, for two years; Tri M Music Honor Society; History Honor Society; Spanish Honor Society; Math Honor Society; Journalism Honor Society; varsity cheerleading for two years; Student Government class representative all four years; band for six years, including participating in clinics at Disney World, performing in the Chicago Symphony Hall, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Universal Studios Orlando — the band earned superior ratings at every festival and a gold as a senior

Out of school: Volunteers for the middle school band camps during summer and help to usher and serve at church; works as an extra for various films as a way to earn money and gain experience and connections in the film industry.

Future goals: “The goal is to work my way up in the film industry. As my education in this department grows, I’ll have a better idea of what area I want to focus on, but as of right now I am interested in either being a producer or art director and/or taking on leading positions for major production companies. Despite my admiration for the business as a way of producing modern art forms, the structure behind it struggles with systemic inequality. I aim to use my career to not only have a passion of mine pay the bills but also further the growth of minorities. Even though diversity in race and gender is struggling in multiple areas, when an overwhelming majority has the control to direct such a massive social pastime, we only see products and stories that reflect that narrow worldview and hinder our own.”