The 2026 Taylor Preparatory High School graduate is eager to hit the ground running in Ann Arbor, where she will attend UofM debt-free thanks to a mixture of scholarships and grants. Thanks to 10 years of education in National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) schools, Olivia is prepared for the challenge.
The academic rigor UofM offers was a big draw for Olivia. When looking at college options, Olivia said she was looking for something difficult, something that could stretch her academically.
“I wanted a challenge, something that would push me,” Olivia said. “This opportunity is the perfect storm. It’s close to home, and it was really difficult to get in. It felt extremely out of reach, but it’s a surreal feeling knowing I get to achieve my dreams, and that is not realistic for everyone.”
Olivia has faced her share of setbacks on the road to Ann Arbor, but her perseverance and resolve grew with every challenge. She grew up with her grandparents and is a ward of the state. Olivia said that her childhood helped shape who she is, building a foundation of grit and perseverance.
This life experience gave Olivia a different lens into the Moral Focus™ virtues she learned about as a student from grades 3-8 at Taylor Exemplar Academy and as a high schooler at Taylor Prep. She called the program beneficial for her and her classmates.
“Moral Focus™ gives us a larger scope of the world and how people are emotionally,” Olivia said. “It’s very beneficial in supporting students emotionally and teaching them those skills.”
At Taylor Prep, Olivia was involved in everything she could be. She was active on the school’s volleyball and basketball teams, served on the student council, and was vice president of the school’s National Honor Society.
It was Olivia’s second nature to say yes to any opportunity she was offered. She said she has always loved to volunteer and lend a helping hand.
“If I was asked to stay after for something, I never had a second thought, it was an automatic yes,” Olivia said. “I never had to question it. I always liked any opportunity I had to help my peers or my teachers.”
In her time at Taylor Prep, she has built leadership skills, moral virtues, and gained a wealth of knowledge. The next step is applying what she’s learned and apply it in her next journey at UofM. Thanks to her experience at Taylor Exemplar and Taylor Prep, she feels ready for the challenge.
“Taylor Prep set me up extremely well,” Olivia said. “It was extremely beneficial in preparing me for college, helping me build a resume, and all the things after high school you might not realize you need. It was extremely beneficial, and I’m very happy that I was given the opportunity.”
Congratulations, Olivia! Best of luck in Ann Arbor!
About Taylor Preparatory High School
Taylor Preparatory High School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Taylor, Michigan, serving students in ninth through 12th grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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