Olivia Walker '16 began her Caedmon journey in second grade. In addition to being an excellent student, Olivia was also recognized for her talent as a pianist, a skill she showcased in her role in the Fifth Grade musical, The School of Rock. After graduating from Caedmon, she attended Marymount School and later Riverdale Country School.
Now in her junior year at UCLA, Olivia is pursuing a degree in neuroscience on the pre-med track, with hopes of becoming a doctor. She credits both her high school research on the brain and her positive experiences in early college STEM courses—particularly in psychology and the physics of electromagnetism—for developing her interest in the field. She is drawn to neuroscience for its unique combination of social and physical sciences. In line with her career goals and major, Olivia earned her EMT certification and works during the school year as a medical assistant at a dermatologist. For several years, she has also volunteered in the Neuroscience Critical Care Unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and serves on the board of UCLA’s student-run Neuroscience Undergraduate Society.
Outside of academics, Olivia loves to exercise and works as an assistant running coach at an addiction rehab center, leading runs with a group of patients and training them to compete in a variety of races. She is also a member of the Delta Gamma sorority at UCLA and lived in the sorority house during her sophomore year with about 40 other members. Reflecting on the experience, Olivia shared, “It's hard to be so far away from New York sometimes, so I felt really supported while I lived in the house and was definitely pushed out of my comfort zone.”
Thank you for sharing your college journey with us, Olivia. We wish you continued success in all your endeavors!
