Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations senior Olivia Hailey took every opportunity she could while at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to better herself to be set up for success in the workforce after she graduates this spring.
Hailey is originally from Memphis but her family moved to Knoxville when she was in middle school. She graduated from Bearden High School and started her college career in the fall of 2020.
“Originally I was a political science major. However, I have been a photographer since high school, and in the middle of my freshman year at UT I decided that I wanted to get a degree in something that would allow me to incorporate my passion for photography and storytelling,” she said.
Her creative spirit and passion for storytelling have landed her several internship opportunities. In her junior year, Hailey was a photography intern for UT’s Office of Communications and Marketing. She was also a social media and marketing intern at a small marketing firm and is currently a marketing intern for Altar’d State.
In between internships Hailey had the opportunity to go to New York and study abroad in Siena, Italy, with the Tombras School.
When thinking back to her trip to Italy, she said, “It was the most incredible experience of my life. Siena and its culture were just beautiful, and the experience taught me that I’m capable of a lot more than I thought.”
Hailey has been a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority her entire at UT and said her sorority sisters have pushed her to succeed in college and beyond.
“This organization has brought me my best friends who have believed in me unwaveringly. Seeing how they succeed also pushes me to succeed because I want to make them proud. I also was able to serve as the sorority’s photographer for two years, and it was really cool to see how my photos were used,” she stated.
As her time as an undergraduate at UT has come to an end, Hailey said she has gained many skills that will help her in the workforce and has learned to overcome her fears of asking questions thanks to the kindness of the faculty and staff at the Tombras School.
“My time at both UT and the Tombras School has been amazing. I have met professors who have pushed me to be better and made friends who have brought me so much joy. I’ll be really sad to leave this community,“ she said. “This community is full of brilliant people who only want the best for me, and I’ve learned so much more from professors, staff, and my peers.”