Senior Column – Liv Olson

When I was 10 years old, I self-published a newspaper everyday for a whole year. Growing up homeschooled alloted me a lot of free time, which I typically spent crouched in the corner of my laundry room picking out vibrant colors and eccentric fonts to go along with each issue. My homeschool group participated in various activities and field trips that fed my imagination and inspired many stories for my childhood publication.

Something was missing, though. In order to take my fourth-grade journalism career to the next level, I had to get a typewriter, like the one Lois Lane used in “Superman.” For months, I begged my mom to buy me a typewriter. My dreams finally came true in the parking lot of Savers as I watched my mom carry out a vintage eucalyptus-green typewriter to the car. 

Since then, my love for telling stories has only grown.

In seventh grade, I won a spot in a teen art initiative program at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art downtown. Along with other students, I was invited to create an exhibit called “Selfhood” — a project about ourselves and what makes us unique. I used this opportunity to create a collage that depicted my past accomplishments and explored my future aspirations. I love sharing my story and seeing my ideas come to life on paper.

After I joined the public school system and entered high school, I pursued videography. Video Production allowed me to work in a creative environment and develop a new way of storytelling beyond writing and art. Sophomore year, after a lot of peer pressure from my friends, I applied to be on the Harbinger staff as a videographer. I’d come full circle — I was a journalist once again.

Two and a half years later, I’ve expanded my role on staff to not only include videographer, but also writer and social media designer — fourth-grade me would be proud. 

Late hours of homework, deadlines, practices and team dinners haven’t stopped me from telling stories — I doubt anything will. Storytelling has driven my life, and it has allowed me to connect with others and share my unique perspective of the world. I can’t wait to see what stories I’ll tell next.