The Girl With A Story And A Dream

By Jenna Hay

When people work with camels, research crocodiles, and casually mention names such as Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, they might be assumed to be a seasoned professor of sorts.

However, these experiences are all under the belt of a 15-year-old girl.

Olivia Wise-Dent, a sophomore from James Madison High School in San Antonio, won the Future Farmers of America AgriScience Fair at the State Fair of Texas with her research concerning parasite detection in animal feces. She received a gold medal at the 2014 National FFA AgriScience Fair.

Texas State Fair. Photo by Kurt Nordstrom

Texas State Fair. Photo by Kurt Nordstrom

Wise-Dent chose this topic because it relates to her life’s goal.

“I want to travel the world to work with all kinds of animals while doing research and helping wildlife,” she said. “I don’t need an award for helping animals, that’s a reward in itself.”

Parasite detection may seem like a mature topic for someone so young, but Wise-Dent said she is no stranger to working in a hands-on, professional environment. She said she has already spent several summers working with wild animals in places around the world.

“Me and my mom,” she said, “we’ve always been crazy about animals. So instead of going on a normal vacation, like to the beach or anything like that, we go and work with animals.”

Wise-Dent said her first experience working with animals was at the Wild World of Animals in Pennsylvania when she was 9-years-old. During her two months there, she and her mother worked with exotics including lions, tigers and monkeys. Wise-Dent said one animal called for special attention.

“I took care of baby camels,” she said, with a chuckle. “They’re the craziest things out there. Instead of playing, they kick. Someone needed to sleep with the baby camels every night, so we traded off. It was exhausting, but I had an amazing time.”

Wise-Dent said she admires the work of renowned researchers Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. She said their work serves as inspiration, and she looks to both women as role models.

“I look up to them so much because they were both so passionate about what they do,” she said. “I want to be like that someday.”

Wise-Dent said winning the science fair was a huge milestone, but the journey to reach this point in her career was not always cheerful.

Wise-Dent said her mother, Laura Wise, passed away last summer from malignant cancer.

Members of Madison High School's FFA from North East Independent School District's website.

Members of Madison High School’s FFA from North East Independent School District’s website.

Wise won her previous battle with cancer 14 years ago, Wise-Dent said. However, when the cancer returned, Wise-Dent lost her mother, research partner, and support system.

“Whenever I would have a hard time or feel like I wasn’t getting anywhere,” Wise-Dent said, blinking away tears, “she’d always be the one there to keep me going. We would work together.”

Last summer, Wise-Dent said she and her mother went to Africa to research crocodiles and their parasitic issues. She said this had always been something they wanted to do, but had never gotten around to planning. Once the cancer returned, her mother took matters into her own hands.

“I came home from school one day,” Wise-Dent said, “and my mom just says, ‘We’re going to Africa.’ I thought she was joking, but then several days later she had made all of our plans, and we were set to go. I think she knew she had to go to Africa.”

Wise-Dent said it was their last trip together.

Josh Anderson, Wise-Dent’s teacher and a plant-science teacher, according to his school website, attended the science fair and was the first to congratulate Wise-Dent after she was awarded the honor of Grand Champion. Anderson said Wise-Dent’s mother’s death makes it difficult for her to fully enjoy her success.

“I think it’s bittersweet for her,”Anderson said.“She has the joy of winning, but she can’t share it with her mom.”

However, Wise-Dent said she is not one to be deterred. She said she still has a lot to overcome, but she is focused on accomplishing the goals she and her mother set together.

“I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given,” Wise-Dent said, “but I’m not done yet. I’m not even close to being done yet.”

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Comments

  1. Well written article, what an amazing young girl and a great writer to capture her spirit!