Olivia Edwards (9th grade) is a coed cheer flyer in her very first year of high school. At McCracken County High School, there’s someone with passionate ambitions- hiding in the crowd of the 2,000 students, Edwards stands apart from others. Behind the girl you may see cheering on your school’s cheer team, or walking in the crowded halls to your next class, is a girl destined for a great future and someone you must know. Born and raised here in Paducah, 14-year-old Olivia Edwards was born on May 27th, 2009. She holds incredible talents and has so many unique things about her, you have to hear about her life. But why should you know her? What makes her different from everyone else?

Edwards was raised lovingly, being the youngest of three kids. Her older brother Hudson, just moved away to college, so now her house holds herself, her older sister Madelyn (who is also on the coed cheer team), and her parents Julie and Aaron. Edwards has had a good start with the things she loves, her family having a big part in that. Being in gymnastics since age 5 is what she says inspired her to start cheer in middle school. Sticking with cheer-Edwards is now a freshman and on the coed team. I don’t think it’s as widely understood the difficulties that come along with being on coed. It requires much talent, a lot of practice, and insane amounts of dedication. Edwards tells of the time she walked in to try out for the team: “I remember being so nervous, I was so stressed out not knowing if I would make it or not. When we were told who made it I was full of so much excitement.” she said. Joining a team like that can truly be life-changing for many. She never really felt much excitement at all while being on the cheer team at Reidland Middle School, COVID affected her and her team greatly in not being able to travel or have any competitions. Her talents being trapped and no way for her to use them. “So just getting to make the team I’ve always wanted to be on and knowing I get to complete and make new friends is something you would say is very memorable”. Cheer can be an escape from reality for many, and after years of lockdown, quarantine, and social distancing, sports and many activities are back to finally giving people another opportunity to get involved in their school and execute their gifts.

Although Edwards has an extreme talent and a love for cheer, she wants to become either a nurse or an endocrinologist. If you don’t know, an endocrinologist is “a healthcare provider who specializes in endocrinology, a field of medicine that studies conditions related to your hormones”. Endocrinologists are qualified to treat and diagnose conditions like thyroid disease, infertility, growth issues, and diabetes. Once you hear her backstory, the job makes perfect sense for her. Edwards was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 6 years old which was a big turning point in her life; she says this is what has inspired her to go down the medical pathway and become a nurse or endocrinologist. She states her biggest goal is to keep straight A’s all through high school, a goal not many can accomplish. This goal is only the first step in her long journey of being able to attend medical school and training. With her strong will, I believe this goal can be easily accomplished; she has a good work ethic and this is one of her many inspiring traits. She hopes to end up in an out-of-state college- her love for the tropical outdoors and the beach has made Florida her dream destination after high school.

Edwards is someone with a smart mind yet a very fun personality. “I would probably describe myself as hardworking and fun,” Edwards says, one of her many passions is hanging out with her friends and loved ones, going to the movies, and visiting the mall while shopping at her favorite stores is the perfect pastime. She is a people person with a sweet, extroverted personality and is the perfect friend to have. Traveling is another one of Edwards’s interests, she has a deep love for simply being outside. The beach is one of her favorite spots. From the Grand Canyon to Hollywood, Edwards has traveled to numerous locations- she says Hawaii is at the top of her bucket list. Her future is filled with warm beach days at her Florida home with her future kids. Starting her own family is a big dream, a small loving family is always the comfort you need in life.“I think two kids is enough because I’m actually not a huge fan of kids but I really want to start a family one day.” she says.

From her love for a medical future to her cheerleading, have you ever met someone with as many hobbies and interests as Edwards? Her passions lie in many subjects; another one being English. When asked about any subjects she feels strongly about, English, writing, and cheer were her top answers. In the first grade at Reidland Elementary, Edwards fell in love with writing. She says her biggest inspiration for writing started with her first-grade teacher. “She always made the class so fun and that’s just really when it began,” she stated. This love for writing even sparked her interest in being a journalist when she became older. It’s incredible to see how persuasive teachers and adult figures can be in your life. Edwards has had a great start with her passions; all of which she fell in love with at a young age making her have years more of experience than the average person would. With so many talents Edwards possesses, her future is bright and filled with much success. I encourage you to reach out and talk to her because you never know how greatly things could go. With her bubbly personality and numerous ambitions, Olivia makes the perfect friend.