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Freshman, Olivia Derecskey, is a very hard-working student, and a talented dancer; it’s no wonder that she’s a valuable asset to the Highlights dance team.
Olivia’s passion for dance started at the age of 5 and has only become stronger. “I love dance, especially hip-hop and jazz,” she says, “dance has been a major part of my life since I was 5 years old.”
Olivia has her family to thank for her exposure to dance. She shares, “When I was younger, my parents tried getting me involved in many different sports, but dance was the one that stuck, I enjoy it so much because it allows me to let loose and form connections with so many different people.”
Olivia is beyond thankful for all of the support her family has provided for her throughout her dancing career. She adds, “I come from a family of performers, so naturally my parents pushed me towards dance at a young age, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.” Olivia discovered Highlights after attending a few football games and admiring their performances. She reflects, “Becoming a Highlight was one of the best decisions I think I have ever made.”
One of her favorite memories from Highlights was band camp, where she became much closer with teammates while improving her skills. “I got to dance all day, every day for a week, and I had so much fun with the other Highlights and built lasting friendships with the other girls on the team. I'm so thankful for these experiences because they allowed me to make connections with so many new people that I might have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise.”
Olivia’s commitment to improvement is clear. She mentions, “I put a lot of time and effort into improving in dance and Highlights. I do this by setting goals to work on specific moves or techniques that I feel could be more accurate or precise. By breaking things down and practicing at home, I am able to enhance my routines and reach my full potential.”
A major inspiration for Olivia is senior Highlights captain Audrey Peters. “Someone I look up to is senior Highlight captain Audrey Peters. Audrey is an extremely inspiring person,” Olivia comments. “She leads a team of dancers, takes on many different responsibilities while still taking rigorous classes, and cares for others’ emotions. She makes sure everyone feels heard. I aspire to be just like Audrey: successful, talented, kind, and considerate.”
Balancing a challenging schedule of AP and honors classes such as; AP World History, Honors Biology, Honors English 9, and Honors Integrated Math 3, Olivia does her best to stay organized and focused. “In order to be successful in both academics and extracurriculars, I find it vital to avoid procrastination,” she advises. “Doing my homework as soon as possible gets it out of the way, leaving time for dance and occasional free time. School and activities come first, and then I can determine what to do for fun with leftover time.”
Outside of dance, Olivia is actively involved in clubs like Drug-Free Club and Student Council. “I am a part of Drug-Free Club and Student Council, and I am also a member of the Teacher Appreciation group within Student Council.”
Looking ahead, Olivia is excited about the future with Highlights. She explains, “I truly enjoy Highlights so much. In the summer and fall, Highlights is my life, and I love that. I had such an incredible season spent with the most amazing girls. It was an extraordinary experience that I can’t wait to relive next year.”
With her passion, work ethic, and positive attitude, Olivia is sure to continue inspiring everyone around her.
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