It is quite common for an adult to describe a youngster by saying, “Oh, they have a strong curiosity.” It is one of the things that parents say, similar to “the child has an ear for music,” etc. 

There are, however, special youngsters for whom such descriptions are exactly correct. The Alba-Golden 2025 valedictorian, Olivia Morrison, is certainly one of those true exceptions.

Morrison readily admits that her life, thus far, has been an unending series of ‘how’ and ’why’ questions. 

“Yes,” she admitted, “my parents had to show me a lot of patience.”  Morrison’s questions started at an early age and have never stopped.  Her natural curiosity seems to be multiple layers deeper than the normal questions posed to parents or teachers.

It has led her to some interesting study habits.

One is the habit of taking volumes of notes. For any single class, Morrison explained that she will often keep a series of three notebooks: a summary of the textbook or study material, a second to capture the actual instruction from the teacher and a third composed of facts she wants to later go back and research as well as questions which she must later answer.  

“I may even have to take a couple of my notebooks to Austin with me,” she admitted. 

The valedictorian is headed to the University of Texas. Being top of the class has earned her free tuition for her freshman year.

Morrison will begin her collegiate studies in UT’s College of Natural Sciences with coursework in public health.

“We’ll see where that takes me,” she offered. 

The top contenders are the fields of endocrinology, emergency room medicine or anesthesiology.

One gets the sense that as the medical world opens up for Morrison, more notebooks and more questions will follow, with the final specialization of future Dr. Morrison to yet be determined.

Parents Lisa and Derek Morrison kept their daughter well-advised of the value of education. “Education is important – make time for it,” was an oft-repeated message in the household. 

Lisa, an LSU graduate, stressed finding meaning in one’s life, while UT alumnus Derek instructed Olivia on maintaining a balanced life. 

In addition to the support of her parents and ‘Grandma,’  Morrison takes a holistic view of life.

“Everyone you meet pushes you forward,” she said.

An unrelenting curiosity, an exhaustive work ethic and tremendous support have already propelled Morrison to some unique achievements. She completed 32 hours of staff-shadowing at Christus Trinity Mother Francis Hospital.

There she worked in intensive care (ICU), neo-natal ICU, the emergency room and the endocrinology ward. She has also directly observed an amputation, an appendectomy, an angioplasty and a prostatectomy.  

“My interest in the medical field actually began with a freshman class in kinesiology here at Alba-Golden,” she said. That class focused on ‘what is the plan?’ for recuperating from an injury.

Alba-Golden also provided a platform for two additional Morrison passions: drama and pole vault. 

This year Morrison played the lead character, June, in the school play Anatomy of Gray.

“I got to express the complete range of emotions playing the role of June,” Morrison said. The one-act play troupe advanced to regional competition this year.   

Morrison lauded drama teacher, Mrs. Whitecotton, for maintaining such an amazing environment within the drama program.

Morrison has also spent her high school years competing in the pole vault.

“The sense of flying is really amazing, there is no describing it,” she explained.

In addition to her studies, the self-taught amateur pianist is anxious to experience the music scene in Austin. She advised that she already has tickets to Austin City Limits. 

If all goes according to plan, Wood County residents could be consulting Dr. Morrison in a few short years.