Jolie D. Olsen

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"Although some may not understand my dedication, I am never going to quit in my quest for a quality education. Much good can come through individual perseverance."

  • Program: 2007 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Owasso, OK
  • Hometown: Tulsa, OK
  • Age: 24

Biography

 

Jolie Olsen spent her entire life in an environment of poverty, but still found hope in her own situation.  At the age of 10, her family volunteered for a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico.  Playing with dolls and dice, Jolie bypassed the language barrier and made friends with the local children.  Their generous offers of toys, and their ability to find joy, made a deep impression on Jolie.  “Our apartment had fleas and leaks, but it had doors. America’s ghettos did not compare.  My friends had opened my eyes to a new world and given me a new outlook.”
 
Jolie’s optimistic view often wavered.  In Denver, her mother worked “endless hours” as a janitor, leaving the children alone and feeling isolated.  “I desired the structured support I didn’t have, and turned to gangs of other broken kids.”  Seeing the need for a new effort, Jolie walked into Tulsa Community College.  “Within the first month, everything began to fall into place.  I realized I could excel at school.  I wasn’t just getting A‘s, I was receiving the top grade in all of my classes.” 
 
Her resilience, diligence, humor, volunteerism, and science and math aptitude earned her the highest reputation among her instructors. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation makes the essential difference to Jolie, allowing her to continue pursuing a science degree.
 
“I firmly believe every person in the world should have the opportunity to live a healthy life, and will fight to make that a reality.”

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