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Olivia Raya
I have so many thoughts rushing through my head in my feeble attempt to describe Olivia. It would be easier to describe a cool breeze or a bright light. Olivia was a ball of positive energy that radiated out and affected everyone around her.
I met Olivia on the first night of courses in the SPS Program at Rockhurst. We all worked during the day and by the time we reached class, most of us were really tired. I had not been in school for more years than I care to reveal and I wasn’t sure just what to expect. One of our first class assignments was to work in groups on a project. I don’t remember what the project was, but I do remember I had difficulty trusting the others in the group with something that would affect my grade. The following week Olivia had completed her part so thoroughly that I decided if Rockhurst was going to use the group system in my classes, then I wanted to make sure that Olivia and I were on the same team. This in itself may not seem unusual, but I had grandchildren not much younger that Olivia. One of the things that made Olivia stand out was the fact of how accepting she was of others. She was a chameleon who automatically fit in wherever in any situation because of her free spirit and non-judgmental attitude.
As easy going as Olivia was, the one thing that could set her off during class was if someone made the mistake of calling her Olivia Raya pronounced with the long “a” sound. She would quickly make the correction that her name is pronounced R i y a. Olivia was extremely proud of her name and equally so of her family. Before class, during breaks, walking to our cars, and during the long hours of project work during our two years and a half years at Rockhurst, Olivia talked about two things, her family, and how she was going to use her degree to help the world. I heard all about her work at Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Tony, her mother, father, sisters, and a special niece who she greatly adored. Olivia would repeat over and over how she wanted to make her father proud of her. She spent the remainder of her time talking about Tony and how much she loved him. She told of how skilled he was in the trades and how he used this skill to purchase and renovate houses. She looked forward to their future together and how she was going to improve the world.
The thought that lingers with me is how Olivia always added a positive influence, but she also had a playful side. She took great delight in trying to make me laugh during some of our classes and I finally learned to sit in the row next to her and one seat ahead instead of in front or to her side. One evening we both arrived at Rockhurst early and I was in the restroom washing my hands when in walked Olivia. I asked her if she had finished her homework. Her eyes doubled in size and I won’t repeat what she said, but she had forgotten about it. I explained the assignment to her and then I went to the classroom. When it was time for class to start Olivia walked in and I cringed when the professor called on her first for her answers. She looked at me and smiled and rattled off the answers. It was hard to keep a straight face in my amazement of what she had done in ten minutes.
The last time that I saw Olivia was at our graduation. We both were pretty happy. To be honest, we were both floating on our own clouds. I introduced Olivia to my family who had heard about her and some of the other students who I was usually paired with in groups. My sister took pictures of us together in our caps and gowns and when we received our diplomas. I met Olivia’s family and she and I were going to stay in touch. I left Rockhurst on that Saturday, December 14, 2002, expecting to receive a wedding invitation from Olivia and her precious Tony.
When I heard on the local news that Olivia was gone, it was as if a small part of me had died. Olivia was more than just a school friend. I realized early in our friendship that I had adopted Olivia. While we were at Rockhurst, she was my kid. She actually listened as this old lady gave her advice on world affairs. She was everything that I had hoped my own children would be. Olivia was caring, a hard worker, motivated, and knew the necessity of a higher education. Although I am saddened by her loss, I still smile when I think of that burst of energy named Olivia. |
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Olivia Raya was a person who thrived to complete her college education. She also had a natural humanity to motivate others to complete their college education. We met Olivia at Penn Valley Community College, were we began our relationship as classmates that later blossomed into friendships. Our friendship created a support system that helped us achieve a goal we all had in common, which was to accomplish a college education and to apply it to a meaningful career that would create a fulfilling life for ourselves. We became each other’s cheerleaders and confidants. Olivia was there to tell us “You can do it!”, “It will be one of the hardest things you do, but well worth the hard work and effort” and “I’m so proud of you”.
It shattered our hearts when we heard that the Lord had sent for her early, but it was a blessing for us to have shared an important moment in her life when she graduated from Rockhurst University. She had fulfilled an important goal in her life and we were there to tell her “We are so proud of YOU!”
We support and say thank you to her mother Sylvia for keeping her legacy alive through a scholarship that will help support other Latinas like Olivia who are hungry for a college education, and who share a dream to have a chance for a better life.
Thanks |
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Lifelong Friends
Imagine freshman year not knowing a soul at a huge public school. My first day at Northeast High School was so scary until I went to my 3rd hour History class and was greeted with a friendly smile. Olivia in her cheerleading uniform invited me to sit by her. From then on we became fast friends. When you think of a Cheerleader, a Homecoming and Court warming princess what do you see? Most people think the girl will be stuck up. Well not Liv, she was always very friendly and outgoing to everyone she met. She was popular but very down to earth.
Liv had a beautiful smile and she loved to laugh. Her personality was always upbeat that you couldn’t help but have a good time when you were with her. She loved to listen to music and dance. I remember the first Quincenera Liv took me to our sophomore year. I didn’t know how to Mexican dance so I had to sit out when they didn’t play Pop or Hip Hop. Liv wanted to teach me the steps during the dance but I was too shy. So when we got home, she put on a record and taught me how to cumbia right there in her parents dining room. It was all over from then on. We, (Liv, Raquel and I) went to every dance we could go to.
Olivia was captain of our cheer squad for 2 years. She may not have had the biggest and best jumps but we chose her for her fairness, dedication and drive. Olivia was dedicated to almost everything she did. We were in several after school clubs together, we cheered at every game and practiced on nights there weren’t any games. Through it all Olivia worked hard and she got on the Honor Roll and eventually received a scholarship from the LULAC Organization upon graduation. She went to Penn Valley and then on to Rockhurst College for her bachelor’s degree.
Liv and I were inseparable once we became friends. We were always at each other’s house or on the phone with each other. We hung out with our friends and doubled dated a few times. It may seem corny now but we would always try to dress alike to be twins. One winter we even wore white shorts and red t-shirts to school for Valentine’s Day since that is all we had to match. Teachers and some kids thought we were nuts but others thought it was pretty cool. Olivia was someone I could always count on. She would do anything for her friends. Once she spent 2 hours curling my hair, which was past my waist, for a Quincenera I was in. She helped me learn to drive and we got our license together (our hair was so big it barely fit in the picture). On my Debutante Ball, Liv spent her $25 check we got for working a Moonlight Madness Sale to see me debut. She helped me out on many occasions when I got in trouble with my parents. Even though she would help me out, when she saw I was getting into trouble she sat me down to make sure I didn’t let things get too out of hand. That’s how great our friendship was. If we didn’t like something the other was doing we could always talk to each other. We respected each other’s opinion.
Respect, you will never know anyone more respectful than Olivia. She listened to her parents and older relatives. She always went to her grandma’s house to visit and spend time with her family (that’s where I had my first taste of Menudo). When she greets someone it is always with a kiss or a hug. Every week she went to church and it made her daddy proud. Liv didn’t curse. She would say “Shoot” or “Dang” and that would be the worst of it. Olivia was a great listener and she respected other people’s opinions even though she may not have agreed with them. That is why we all love her.
Olivia was one of my best friends and I owe a lot to her. Liv and Shannon got my husband PJ and I together and she is the Godmother of our daughter, Jazmine. She was one of the reasons high school was so much fun for me. We did so many crazy and fun things together and the memories will never fade. For my senior biography Liv wrote an article “Friends til the End” about the uniqueness of our friendship and that we would be lifelong friends. Well that was so true because even though we took separate paths after high school, we would still talk and visit with each other. We still shared our secrets, hopes and dreams with each other and she supported my choices of starting a family and I of her furthering her education and career. Olivia is a wonderful role model for my daughter and I hope Jazzy will follow in her nina’s footsteps one day. |
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