Student Spotlight-Olivia Arratia
Capturing Hope through Adversity
Olivia Arratia (TWU 2017) is a Terry Transfer Scholar and graduating senior, majoring in Photography with a concentration in Business. Olivia shared how she is being affected by our current COVID-19 climate:
“Life is going very slow for me right now. I am usually always on the go with a jam-packed busy schedule! So, this is definitely a change for me; working, attending classes, and completing assignments at home. I am a coffee-shop-library-studying kinda girl, so I have had to be patient with myself in a new learning environment. I also went through the heartbreak of not being able to walk across the stage for graduation this year and missing the Terry Scholars Picnic. All that being said, I am hopeful for the future. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have received as a Terry Scholar and TWU student, and my journey does not end here!”
“I also went through the heartbreak of not being able to walk across the stage for graduation this year and missing the Terry Scholars Picnic. All that being said, I am hopeful for the future.”
Reflecting on what led her to choose her major of Photography with a concentration in business, Olivia shared:
“Growing up in southern California exposed me to a love for the arts. I was surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and the ocean, and much of my Catholic religion and Hispanic culture. I took my first photography class at my community college after my family and I moved to Dallas from California. I fell in love with the process of capturing a moment, place, or person in time. Through photography, I am able to express myself and help others express themselves too! I currently run my own photography business and hope one day to open up my own studio! My business classes at TWU have provided me with a firm foundation on business skills and entrepreneurship, and I continue to implement them as my business grows.”
Despite many of her senior experiences being unexpectedly cut-short, Olivia still accomplished a great deal this past year:
“I had a solo exhibition in the TWU Student U Gallery, and have had two of my art pieces featured in the 2019 John Weinkein Juried Student Art Exhibition, one winning 4th place. I am currently interning with The Highlands school in Dallas and have maintained a GPA of 4.0. This February, I had a solo exhibition in Hubbard Hall and two art pieces accepted into the Joyce Elaine Grant Lens Exhibition at TWU, and I married my high school sweetheart of six years!”
“I am so very grateful to have had two of my photographs in the 17th Annual Joyce Elaine
Grant Juried Exhibition! Both images come from the series ‘The Only Place’ titled ‘Café
con Margarita and Mango & Margarita’This show was juried by the amazing Lisa Sutcliffe!”
Source: Olivia’s Instagram- @olive_garden_
“My photo transfer book Hodie Sactorum got 4th place at the 2019 John Weinkein Juried Student Exhibition! It was also placed in the TWU Libraries permanent database for collection! Hodie Sactorum translated from Latin is ‘today’s saints.’ This book is dedicated to the faithful men and women of the Catholic Church existing after the 1880s. Photographs of saints are important to me because it represents them as what they are; Humans. Throughout their suffering they have kept Christ close to them and reached their ultimate goal, Heaven.”
Olivia spoke at the 2019 TWU Terry Banquet, providing words of hope and encouragement to her fellow Terry Scholars, her words were inspiring then and still ring true today, especially given this unprecedented time in our country:
“Oftentimes, I ask myself, why me? Why did the Terry Foundation choose me out of all the students who were interviewed? I still may struggle with this question when self-doubt enters. But one thing I know is they chose me because they believed in me, more than I believed in myself. The same goes for you: The Terry foundation chose you because they believed in you. Every one of you was chosen because the foundation knew you would succeed. They recognized your hardships and victories, saw your strengths AND your weaknesses and believed in you.”
“Every one of you was chosen because the foundation knew you would succeed. They recognized your hardships and victories, saw your strengths AND your weaknesses and believed in you.”
“Know that the road to success is never easy, there will be obstacles, downfalls, sadness, and trials that will make you want to give up. Just remember that you are never alone. From leaving an abusive roommate situation, losing my grandmother to stage four cancer, and dealing with depression, these past three years have been a challenge. However, I knew I could always lean on my Terry family for support and help. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes, “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.” No matter how crazy this semester will get, don’t let anyone or anything take away the greatness you are able to achieve. The Terry Foundation saw your greatness, believed in you and knew you would succeed.”
Olivia with her grandmother
Olivia with her five siblings
In closing, Olivia shared the following sentiments for her fellow Terry Scholars:
“I look forward to the day when we can all go out and give each other hugs and no more elbow-fives! There is a bigger plan for us all, and I pray every day for all of those that have been affected by the virus, and those who are putting their lives in danger to protect ours.”
