CNJ+ July 2024

Senior Spotlight: CHARLENE OLAVIDES

Charlene Olavides is a soft spo ken, but hardworking student at MTHS. She enjoys exercising, shopping, and watching episodes of Parks and Rec , but often spends time baking and sharing her sweet treats with friends, too. Olavides is particularly gifted in the arts with singing and playing the pia no being her biggest passions. She is a dedicated member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, Tri-M Mu sic Honor Society, and French Honor Society. For these organi zations, she has done countless hours of community service and maintained exceptional grades. Most recently, she volunteered at the 2021 MTHS Fall Coffee house for Tri-M as well as helped raise $200 to go towards pediatric cancer research during Septem ber, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, on behalf of the French Honor Society. Olavides has also been a Principal’s List student for the entirety of her high school ca reer. Even though she works at Wawa,

Olavides prepares macarons during one of her many baking sessions. Photo Credit: Charlene Olavides

Olavides is incredibly involved at the school. She is a member of the Key Club, Student Council, and Red Cross Club. Additionally, she is a singer for the Treble Chorus and acts as Attire Coordinator for Choir Council.

Olavides is President of the school’s French Honor Society chapter, Société Honoraire de Français, as well. Of all the classes she’s taken, her favorite was Language Arts with Ms.

Sundstrom during her junior year. While the curriculum often included analyzing more tra ditional works like Shakespeare, Ms. Sundstrom encouraged class discussions which included “modern issues and topics that aren’t normally brought up in a classroom”, Olavides described. She found this teaching style to be refreshing, especially during the virtual learning environ ment. Olavides is still undecided on where she’d like to attend college, but plans to get her masters in Public Health. “…I know I want to work in health-care relat ed public policy because I believe that is a uni versal priority.” Olavides hopes to one day work for the World Health Organization.

Olavides smiles for a picture with friends Sruti Praba, Harsha Coonathur, and Surabhi Ashok. Photo Credit: Charlene Olavldes

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