By Christopher Maldonado
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD — Olivia C. Walker balances her life with Camden County College academics and Nike retail work experience while she still enjoys her sport and favorite type of cuisine.
CCC Student
For starters, Olivia is a student at Camden County College, majoring in communications and minoring in digital marketing with plans to complete a bachelor’s program in the future. She takes media classes such as Television Appreciation and Influence of Mass Media.
Her current favorite class is Television Appreciation because she gets to study about different films in class. She is doing a study on cops and crimes in the class.
It’s also her first time back at college after she took some time off because of some academic struggles. This semester at Camden County College is a fresh start for her as she has also begun a new major.
Olivia said, “I’m coming from my gap year as this is a new chance to further my education.”
Future at RCSJ
Olivia’s plans after she graduates are to attend Rowan College of South Jersey to complete a bachelor’s degree in digital marketing. She hopes to work in a sports environment, either in social media or journalism. She also chose Rowan College of South Jersey because its Deptford campus has a comic book store that she says is her favorite.
Olivia would like to follow in the footsteps of her uncle, who works remotely for Netflix.
Olivia also mentioned that the community at Rowan College of South Jersey motivated her to attend after her Camden County College graduation. “There is a good comic and Pokémon community on campus,” Olivia stated. She added that a transfer there would make it easy for her to enjoy her hobbies.
Job at Nike Outlet
Not only does Olivia attend school, but she also works on days off from school. She works as a cashier at the Nike Outlet in Gloucester Township. She has worked there for a while and enjoys it. Olivia gets engaged with customers and meets new people all the time. She is always learning something from those customers.
Olivia described the work environment as chill and relaxed. It’s “a diverse environment and I meet all kinds of people.” Olivia noted.
Recreational Sport
Apart from work and school life, Olivia likes to play pickleball on her own time. She has been playing the sport for three years, as she started during high school when she had a game as an activity for gym class. She enjoyed it so much that she bought rackets from Five Below to begin teaching herself and playing on her own.
She began playing at James Memorial Park in Blackwood, as it was the first park in her town to have a pickleball court. “In my local town, they built a pickleball court in the park and it reminded me of when I used to play in high school,” Olivia said.
She is also in a recreational pickleball club that hosts events in the summer.
Favorite Restaurant, Food
Olivia is a huge fan of Mexican food. She has a favorite Mexican restaurant that she goes to all the time. It’s called El Mariachi Saint Lucas and it’s located in Voorhees Township. Her favorite item on the menu is a chicken quesadilla with Verde sauce.
Olivia said, “It’s a comfort food because I grew up in a Spanish household. It cheers me up to eat my favorite dish.”
Her boyfriend, Ernesto Olmedo, praised Olivia’s future and called her “one of the most welcoming, passionate and easy people to talk to that I’ve ever met.”