Olivia Calvillo

Hello, I am Olivia Calvillo. I grew up in Tacoma, Washington with a passion for science and understanding world around me. I come from a background of mixed cultures. My mother is half Korean and my father is Mexican. I also have an older brother who has graduated from the University of Washington with a Marketing degree. All of my family have been huge influence in my upbringing. Together they have taught me the value of hard work and that anything can be achievable if you set you mind to it.
I began my college career as a Sophomore in high school through the Running Start program offered at Tacoma Community College (TCC). There I studied Psychology, earning my high school diploma and my AA degree simultaneously. During my two years at TCC, I worked as a Supplemental Instruction Leader for an Intro Psych course. My job was to facilitate small learning groups and create an alternative learning environment that supplemented the professor's curriculum. This required good interpersonal skills, knowledge of how to organize and manage work groups, thorough knowledge of course material, and teaching and communication skills. I thrived at in this work and earned the 2014 Outstanding SI Leader of the Year Award.
I also maintained the Deans List and High Honors throughout my 2 years at TCC, in addition to being a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society from 2013 to 2014. I was considered as a Finalist for the Ellen Pinto Outstanding Student of the Year award, a prestigious award given to a student who shows great academic ability as well as service to the college and community.
At Oregon State University, I am currently pursuing a Physics major with the intent to receive a PhD in Physics. I have always had a deep interest in the inner workings of both the universe and the human mind. I originally chose Psychology as my focus because I never could have dreamed of being capable of becoming a Physicist. Math was not a strong skill for me, or so I believed. I have now come to the realization that even though the path to becoming a Physicist will not be easy for me, I should not let the challenges stop me from achieving what I am meant to be. I am determined to do what ever it takes to overcome any barrier in order to reach my goals.
I have a very strong work ethic, and I will gladly go the extra mile in order to do things right. When problems arise, I deal with them immediately and I am very good at problem solving. I am always on time and very organized when it comes to managing schedules and deadlines.