Olivia Hess was one of the most successful writers to join the BluePrint during her junior and senior years at Bellwood-Antis, but despite her award-winning career and success as an editor, she never planned on writing in college.
“Most people are surprised when I tell them I’m an economics major because I’ve always had a love for the journalism world,” the 2024 B-A graduate said. “I’ve been writing for years and years, and it’s something that comes naturally to me, so I didn’t see a reason to let my number-heavy major stop me from continuing. I like talking to people and handling their stories with care, and I get to write in a way that hopefully makes them feel seen, which is special.”
Olivia is currently a freshman at Penn State University. Along with her economics major, she works for Onward State, which she described as “essentially Penn State’s blog.” It’s an online magazine that covers school news, sports, and social life. Because she had followed the outlet for a while before coming to Penn State, she knew she wanted to be involved in it when she began school at University Park.
She’s one of two college freshmen from Bellwood-Antis writing for college publications along with Hannah McClellan, who is writing for The Daily Campus at UConn.
Olivia said she writes about things that she finds interesting. As a result, she covered topics ranging from food reviews to peoples love story’s, to politics. Last month, she had the opportunity to talk to the State College mayor, Ezra Nanes, about his re-election and his life in general.
The first post she ever wrote was about Penn State’s softball team playing in the Leadoff Classic, which she described as “a pretty basic story.”
However, the first story where she was able to feature people was one she wrote in October about a couple that met in one of Penn State’s dining halls, fell in love, and eventually got engaged in front of Old Main. The story was called “Love At First Sight In Redifer Commons: A Penn State Invisible String Love Story.”
“I like talking to people and handling their stories with care, and I get to write in a way that hopefully makes them feel seen, which is special,” Olivia said.
“I love my job at Onward State, and I love what we do there. Working with a team so talented, supportive, and passionate is such a privilege, and I love contributing to the blog!
In high school, Olivia won many awards for BluePrint, from SNO awards to top honors at regional and statewide contests, like the PSPA and Keystone Awards. She said her two years with the BluePrint sharpened her critical thinking skills immensely.
“It’s easier for me to see multiple angles from every story, think about how to tailor a message to a specific audience, and be intentional with what I’m saying,” she said. “Generically, my ‘college essay’ was very easy for me to write because of everything I just mentioned. Without reading, writing, and editing every single day in BluePrint, I know I would have struggled with arguably the most important essay of my life. I also know that I wouldn’t have my current position and internship!”
Mr. Naylor, who advised Olivia in BluePrint for two years, was always surprised she didn’t choose to pursue journalism out of high school.
“She was literally an award-winning writer and it came so naturally to her. She was flawless in things like grammar and mechanics and really good when it came to seeing angles on stories,” he said. “Then during senior year she took CHS debate so she was doing very public writing and speaking all day long at school. She seemed like she was born to do the language arts.”
Olivia’s dad, Dustin, recently published a novel called Sweet Pea and the Three Days of Darkness, so she comes by her penchant for writing naturally. She said reading her dad’s book, she instantly noticed how similarly they write.
“There were so many times when I thought I would’ve said that the same exact way,” she said.
That type of relationship makes Dustin a trusted editor and confidante during Olivia’s writing process.
“He is someone I trust to read over my writings and give me good feedback, so it was fun to do one of the initial reads of his book and do the same,” Olivia said.
While Olivia doesn’t see herself writing professionally after college, “anything can happen.” Her passion for the written and spoken word, while maybe not common for the stereotypical economics major, appear to be something Olivia will cultivate throughout her life.
“I enjoy writing, so I’ll probably always write in some capacity,” she said. “Words and writing are all around us. I write every single day, whether it’s an email to a professor, a text to a friend, or for a homework assignment. When you write, you think differently, and you’re more conscious of what you say and who’s reading it. I think that in itself has helped me to be an effective communicator with all kinds of people.
“Words are underestimated. They’re the most powerful tools we have, and we should never forget that.”
Olivia’s most recent story on her discussion with Ezra Nanes was published in February and can be accessed here.
