Even though she goes to high school, she is not just another high school student. Not only does she walk, she runs, leaps, summersaults, and pirouettes. Her home is not only the house she lives in, but the city itself.
Olivia (Olive) Francesca Sharpe Lopez, 16, is a junior at The Urban School of San Francisco, the photo editor for The Urban Legend, and a layout editor for the Urban Journal. She participates in both ballet and contemporary for the ODC Dance Commons of San Francisco with current Urban School attendees and alumni.
“My mom made me take (dance) classes when I was younger,” said Lopez. “I didn’t like it at first, but then it grew on me.” Personal relationships were key: “I really liked the girls in my class and the teachers.”
A lifelong San Francisco resident, Lopez gets energy from her surroundings.
“I like the city because it's really bustling with life and energy and I love being completely immersed in it,” Lopez said. “Even being on MUNI can be fun just because of the fantastic views you have through the bus window.” She also likes the Bernal Hill neighborhood. “A lot of people think that it's windy and cold and boring but I love the view,” Lopez said. “I like bringing my sketchbook up there for art classes and getting inspiration because it gives you a 360-degree view of the city.”
Lopez, who serves as a class representative for the junior class at Urban, is both a peer tutor and a tutor for Aim High, a nonprofit organization that provides academic help to disadvantaged San Francisco public school students. As a child, Lopez wanted to work in either an Apple store or a bookstore, and she still wants to work in an Apple store because she is very interested in both Apple’s technology and aesthetic.
In her spare time, Lopez likes to travel, spend time with her friends, and enjoy some of Urban’s festivities, such as the One Acts or the Winter Festival.
