18 | Highland Park High School | Grade 12
Olivia-Sophie Keijsers Koning described her eighth-grade move from New York City to Dallas as a “huge culture shock.” Subways were replaced with busy highways. Corner pizza shops became taco joints. Instead of casual streetwear, there were cowboy boots and Homecoming dresses.
“I realized I had a choice, to be an observer of this new world from the outside, or to immerse myself completely,” she remembered. “I chose the latter, and I strive to continue so.”
Keijsers Koning hasn’t simply become part of this community — she’s a leader within it.
At Highland Park High School, she’s a MAPS Moody Scholar Committee Board Member, Sports Analytics class representative, LitFest Student Committee co-president, and editor-in-chief and head photographer for the school newspaper, The Bagpipe.
In the community, she’s a Keijsers Koning Art intern, DONE The Magazine Design and Production intern, and The Good Life Publications student op-ed writer. She received the Service to the Community Award at Highland Park High School’s Annual Academic Recognition Ceremony in 2025 after earning more than 300 service hours.
She volunteers each Saturday at the University Park Public Library, and has donated her time to HP CultureFest and My Martial Arts.
But Keijsers Koning is proudest of her podcast, The Lazy Feminists. She created her first episode during her junior year, and has already published four episodes and four trailers, as well as built a social media presence on Instagram through posts and reels. The podcast, Keijsers Koning said, has become a space for students to express their thoughts and opinions on feminism and the modern world.
“The social issue I’m most passionate about is women rights,” she said. “Since I was old enough to walk, I have been participating in protests, actively advocating. Since then, I have grown my interests, created passion projects and published articles to ensure my voice and others are heard.”
Keijsers Koning, who is Dutch American and grew up in New York City, plans to study global communication science and political science at the University of Amsterdam.
“I dream to leave the world a better place,” she said, “and I have only just begun.”
What (or who) motivated you to get involved in the community?
Moving from NYC in 8th grade, I experienced a huge cultural shock. Subways were replaced with cars, corner pizza shops were replaced with taco joints, streetwear was replaced with cowboy boots and homecoming dresses. I realized I had a choice, to be an observer of this new world from the outside, or to immerse myself completely. I chose the latter, and I strive to continue to do so.
What accomplishment are you proudest of and why?
I’m proudest of my podcast, The Lazy Feminists. This project began in eighth grade as part of the newspaper final and a random word generator, inspiring me to create the first episode during my junior year. Despite my late start, I have published four episodes and four trailers, and have built a social media presence on Instagram through posts and reels, curating a space for students to express their thoughts and opinions on feminism and the modern world.
What do you hope you’ll be doing 10 years from now?
I’m unsure where I’ll be, but I hope to pursue a career in journalism, whether that is political, investigative or broadcasting, and to be that source that tells the untold stories. I also hope to start a nonprofit, one that aids and advocates on the behalf of women.
What is the best advice you’ve received?
To just begin. Start the big idea, forgo the what ifs and uncertainty, and embrace the mistakes made along the way. Failure, although it’s painful to experience, is part of reaching success.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My little sister. Her confidence and bravery are admirable, and her charisma and unapologetic dramatic character are a thrill to be around. I strive to be a role model she is proud to call her sister.
What do you love most about your community?
I love that when I have an idea, no matter how strange, my community provides the resources and support to begin. When I face opposition or struggle, I have a reliable support system within the school and people within the community.
If there was ONE thing that you could change or improve in the community, what would it be? How would you change it?
One thing to change or improve in the community is creating a more welcoming space for all individuals, specifically for high school students. I would open a coffee shop or cafe that is open 24 hours, so all high school students can interact, creating a new hub spot.
What is something that gives you hope for the future?
What gives me hope is seeing my friends, my classmates, and people across the globe around my age step into adulthood with me, each on their own determined path, a collective momentum towards a new future.
What social issues are you the most passionate about, and why?
The social issue I’m most passionate about is women’s rights. Since I was old enough to walk, I have been participating in protests, actively advocating. Since then, I have grown my interests, created passion projects and published articles to ensure my voice and others are heard.
If you could shop for free anywhere in the Park Cities or Preston Hollow, where would you go?
I would go shopping at Chanel in the Park Cities area.
Is there anything else you think we should know about you?
I received the Service to the Community Award at the Highland Park High School Annual Academic Recognition Ceremony in 2025 after I earned 300+ service hours. I competed in the feature writing, headlines, editorial, and news categories of the UIL Journalism competition, placing 3rd in district in 2024.
I’m Dutch American, and I grew up in NYC, mainly in Brooklyn and Chinatown. I’ve lived in Dallas for the past four or five years, and I love to travel, experience different cultures, and try different foods. I dream to leave the world a better place, and I have only just begun.
Editor’s Note: A prior version of this story misspelled the name of our Youth on the Rise award recipient. Her name is Olivia-Sophie Keijsers Koning, not Olivia-Sophie Keijers Koning.
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