UPPER SCHOOL IS ALL ABOUT GROWTH”

Starting a new school as a junior can be daunting, but Olivia Graves is the kind of teen who embraces all that life has to offer. She loves biology and art, she runs indoor and outdoor track helping Country Day win a state championship last year, and serves as teen president of the Queen City Chapter—Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She also runs her own art business, OGG Creates, in which she uses a small ink pen and writes names, words, or dates repeatedly throughout the piece, to bring her custom portraits to life. The first piece she created was in 2020 to help raise money for her cousin who was in a serious car accident. She has also auctioned a custom creation to raise funds for Canopy Housing Foundation, as well as led a workshop on Living with Passion and Purpose during the Girls Lead 2 summer camp for middle school girls. See Olivia’s work at oggcreates.com or follow her on Instagram @oggcreates.

She is pictured with her piece titled “Self Love.”

Collaboration Brings Out the Best

“Spirit Week is more than just a celebration—it’s an opportunity to tap into everyone’s unique skills and talents. This year, I took on a leadership role in painting the decorations. This experience showed me how collaborating with others can bring out the best in everyone and ultimately make us more successful.”

Take Risks

“After two years at Country Day, I’ve realized that Upper School is all about growth—both in the classroom and outside of it. If you’re heading into Upper School, my biggest piece of advice is to take full advantage of everything this school has to offer, especially the things that push you outside of your comfort zone. Build strong relationships with your teachers, get involved in clubs and extracurriculars, and don’t be afraid to take risks.”

Passion with a Purpose

“My mission is to create meaningful and timeless memories for people. Art has allowed me to not only bring joy to families but has helped bring communities together for a greater cause. To me, OGG Creates doesn’t feel so much like a business, but more of a passion with a purpose. I get to do what I love and help others in the process. As I continue my business in college, I plan to use art as a way to further spread positivity to different communities and continue to create meaningful and timeless memories.”

The Perfect Balance

“I have loved my Human Anatomy classes because they’re the perfect balance of hands-on learning and lectures. The dissection labs are definitely the highlight for me; it’s one thing to learn about the body from a textbook but actually seeing it up close and understanding how it all fits together is incredible.”

A Welcoming Place

“When I started here as a junior, I was nervous and convinced I wouldn’t fit in with the established friend groups. Honestly, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Country Day is such a diverse and welcoming place that it’s nearly impossible not to find people you can connect with.”