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Jonathan Oliver

1,395

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

Hey! Thank you for visiting my Bold profile! I have a big family, 9 siblings to be exact. 7 of us are adopted. It’s very hard to have alone time in my house, but it is much harder to understand my siblings’ thoughts and what drives them. We are so different, including; the places we are from, ages, likes, dislikes, different situations we’ve encountered, and personalities. Even after years of living and getting to know them, there are many things I don’t understand. It’s amazing how different we are, how our minds all think in different ways. As I've grown older, I have realized how interesting it is that everyone has different ways of responding to different situations. My biggest ambition is to achieve my Ph.D. in Psychology. I want to utilize this degree by becoming a therapist to assist people through difficult times. Along with this, I can better understand each one of my siblings a little better. Being born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita isn’t on anyone’s bucket list. I was born in Sevastopol, Ukraine, and yes, with arthrogryposis. If you break down the word “arthrogryposis,” you will find that it means “stiff joints.” Arthrogryposis limits my reach in my arms and I cannot straighten my legs. I had several surgeries completed in St. Petersburg, Russia, and on December 24th, 2008 I was adopted. The goal is not to write about my condition to get pity but to point out, that although it is difficult living differently from most people, I have adapted. I have learned to be dedicated and persistent through each obstacle that has been placed before.

Education

Danville Community High School

High School
2018 - 2022

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Majors of interest:

    • Psychology, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Test scores:

    • 1070
      SAT

    Career

    • Dream career field:

      Psychology

    • Dream career goals:

      Get my Ph.D.

    • Staff

      Danville Community School Corp.
      2020 – Present4 years

    Research

    • Natural Resources and Conservation, Other

      Danville FFA Chapter — Co-Researcher and Co-Demonstrator
      2021 – 2021

    Arts

    • Pointilism
      Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Sheltering Wings and my high school
      Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Terry Crews "Creative Courage" Scholarship
    Art is a beautiful way to express emotions and feelings. It does not only provide an escape from reality much like a book or movie does, but is also very therapeutic. I believe that art can help people more than they realize, just to see something new and unique. In order to bring more beauty into the world, simply put, I plan to continue my artwork. I was born with a condition that prohibited me from many things but ultimately bending my wrists. Even though I was limited, I found a love of using a pen on paper to produce art. Many people doubted that I could do art when I told them that it was my hobby. I did not care that people didn't believe me, I just stayed in my room and continued to do what I loved. I was not making art for the sake of people, I did it for myself. Until someone did see it and loved it. It opened my eyes to see that I may have more talent than I put on. It took someone to see and appreciate it. The picture that I showed to my friend was a picture of the solar system. The catch is, it was made completely out of dots. Pointillism is my favorite way to draw a picture. It is crazy to think that one dot will not mess up the picture. I have found that, although it takes time and patience, I can produce a beautiful picture through dots. In conclusion, I know my art can bring about a positive change in attitude within people. Art has helped me in many ways and I know I can continue to bring beauty into the world.
    Bold Hobbies Scholarship
    What is something you can just be yourself? Where regardless of any mistake you make, it can still be made into a beautiful masterpiece. For me, I find this through my artwork. Whenever I find myself in a particularly difficult situation, I always sit down with a black gel pen and a piece of blank paper and just draw. I love how every line, dot, and shade are important to the whole picture. Furthermore, art allows me to let my mind wander as my hands continue to make a picture. Another hobby that I find as a break from reality is listening to music and reading a book. You may be asking, at the same time? The answer is yes, at the same time. When I am especially anxious or angry, music always provides a way of calming my mind. Along with this, reading a book provides an escape from reality. When I put them together, it allows me to do two things I love. When I am reading, the music fades into the back. I feel much more relaxed and ready to face the situation at hand.