The Argus is pleased to present Olivia McCallum, third year Media, Film and Communications student! When on campus at Lakehead Orillia, you're not likely to encounter Olivia: she is the living embodiment of the word adventure. Being in a million places at once, it's a miracle the world manages to keep up. During a recent interview, Olivia outlined her inspiration and post-graduate goals, and shared with us some absolutely breathtaking images.

When asked about how Lakehead has worked to facilitate her creativity, Olivia’s response was somewhat jarring: "I found the program overall lacks some vital resources, though they make up for this with a select group of professors who go above and beyond when it comes to the theory aspect of my education. Because of the minimal practical side of [Media, Film and Communications] I find a lot of my facilitated inspiration comes from the firm theoretical foundation Lakehead has helped to lay." However, her perspective ultimately came full circle in her time abroad. Taking advantage of the opportunity to study overseas in Australia, Olivia gained the hands-on experience she was looking for. "Lakehead's outbound study program is awesome! It opened me up to opportunities Lakehead wouldn't otherwise be able to provide. The way universities operate in Australia aren't based on theory like in Canada, it's almost completely practical. It's very cool to get some hands-on experience!"

Olivia's time abroad sounded awesome, and seemed to have set her on an inspired creative pathway. I asked what she was currently working on: "I'm actually in the middle of building out my multimedia marketing management company [Olivia McCallum Studios], so my main focus is on connecting with clients. Aside from business, I try to find time to continue a couple of passion projects of mine. Photography of urban areas has been an area of interest lately. Oh, and school, of course!"

Still stunned by the fact Olivia has found the time to manage school and the growth of a business, I was curious to know what inspired Olivia's work: "My work is inspired mainly by growth. I hope to share a perspective that may have gone missed when looking at an issue or situation at face value. I like to dig and find meaning within messages. I really just want to make people think!"

Finally, I asked Olivia where she saw herself after wrapping up at Lakehead next year, since it sounds like she has the future figured out: "I see myself travelling and continuing to run my business once I graduate." Short and sweet, what an awesome answer!

On the outside looking in, Olivia's work is beautiful. Showcased here are a handful of the images she captured while studying abroad in Australia in the winter of 2020 through the study-abroad program at Lakehead. To check out more of her work, connect with Olivia at www.oliviamccallumstudios.com.

For more information about Lakehead's study abroad program: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/international/exchange/outgoing

*Olivia McCallum: Mt. Cook, New Zealand*

*Olivia McCallum: Great Ocean Road, Australia*

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