The Ghostwriter had the opportunity to sit down with freshman Olivia Bao for an interview for our Student Spotlight series. Read the transcript below for our full interview. In the interview, Bao describes her interests outside of school, thoughts on popular issues like AI, and some clubs she’s enjoyed participating in during her first year of high school.
Q: Hi Olivia Bao!
A: Hi!
Q: You’re a freshman, so tell me about how this transition has been for you going from middle school to high school.
A: I feel like it’s been a very smooth transition, because I’ve talked to a lot of upperclassmen and they’ve been telling me how the homework load is probably going to get a lot more than middle school. Also, [they told me] that I should be focusing on my grades more, especially because they matter for colleges.
Q: Are there any clubs that you’ve joined that helped you figure out what you’re interested in?
A: So, I did DECA, and I think it was a really great experience. Especially towards the business department, because it really helped me understand how the business world worked, and also how to use business terms. I also joined Asian Culture Club, so I’m able to help market, or start marketing our events for it, and also asking for promotions. I think that’s also really good practice.
Q: Tell me about your experience with the Asian Culture Club, how’s that been?
A: It’s been really good, I feel like the club has been welcoming to everybody. It doesn’t matter your race or anything. Also, our biggest event, Lunar New Year, it’s usually held during February, and it’s such a fun event especially because there’s so many performances. There’s raffle tickets too, I think.
Q: Are you looking to eventually gain a leadership position?
A: Yes, I really do hope that I’m able to benefit the club. Especially with my skills that I can provide.
Q: Are there any other [Advanced Placement (APs)] that you might be interested in?
A: So, right now, I’m thinking of taking AP Psychology when I’m a junior.
Q: Is there any particular reason for that [interest]?
A: It’s just because I feel like it’s good to study what the nature of the human brain is. I also think it’s really interesting, but the bigger reason is because of how AI is expanding a lot. For me personally, I feel like psychology isn’t a major where any jobs that require it are going to be taken over by AI, because it’s the study of humans.
Q: Tell me more about this stance on AI. How do you feel about it?
A: I feel like AI, although it’s a good tool, it can be used in a really bad way, so there’s obviously positives and negatives. It’s great how it’s able to generate things very quickly, and it’s very beneficial to a lot of companies. Especially AI can do something 10,000 workers could do in a year that AI could do in a week. But it’s also going to decrease job opportunities.
Q: Have you personally felt as though AI has affected your life at school?
A: Yes, it has. I know that right now some people who use AI help them write things or help them finish certain work that they were supposed to do. Sometimes it’s beneficial, because maybe it’s just to generate some ideas, because people can’t think of ones on their own. But if it’s just to do their work for them, and they don’t try to understand, it’s definitely going to impact them negatively.
Q: I heard you mentioned you do a lot of extracurriculars, could you tell me about those?
A: I take a lot of Mandarin classes outside of school to strengthen my vocabulary, and I do a lot of dancing outside of school, too. Dancing has always been a part of me, ever since I was little. I also take English classes, to help strengthen my English.
Q: You said you did dancing, what style of dancing do you enjoy the most?
A: I really like doing traditional Chinese dancing, which I know a lot of people may think is uncommon, but I think it’s really beautiful.
Q: How long have you been doing traditional Chinese dance?
A: Since I was little.
Q: Could you see yourself doing Chinese dance professionally in the future?
A: Yes, and no. The economy right now is really bad, so I don’t think that job would support me the best. But, if the world didn’t prioritize money, then I definitely see myself doing it professionally.
