Bearcats will be watching the only Choctaw of the senior class walk the War Memorial grad ceremony this June. This specific Bearcat goes from teaching future generations of Bearkittens, to playing her saxophone for the PRHS band, and to performing the ritual dance for her Choctaw council meeting and despite her busy schedule, senior Amelia Olivo is always seen with an optimistic attitude throughout the PRHS halls.
Starting her day off with planning a kinetic sensory activity and spending two class periods within the Bearkitten Preschool, Olivo greatly praises the CTE Education pathway directed by teacher Brenda Matthysse for sparking her passion to teach.
Olivo has been educating and directing young children, ages ranging from two to five years old, for the Bearkitten Pathway (BKPS) for two years, “I’ve known her since she was three years old and it’s been really fun to see her growth and enthusiasm. She’s very positive, accepting of everyone around her, and she’s an encourager” Matthysee said.
Right after graduating high school, Olivo plans to work as a paraeducator for Georgia Brown Elementary while going to school to get her associates degree. The CTE Education pathway program requires all their seniors to take the paraeducator exam; if they pass, students will be provided with the opportunity to work right away after graduation.
After spending most of her morning teaching the 33 children who attend BKPS, Olivo transitions into saxophone practice for the PRHS Marching Band. “I mainly play the saxophone, a jazz instrument. You’ll hear it a lot in jazz styles of music,” Olivo said. Her favorite part of the PRHS Marching Band is the connections she’s made throughout the years, she enjoyed the long nights that the PRHS band spent together practicing for the football games: “I loved going to the games and playing on the field. We spend a lot of time together, so we form friendships and bonds.”
Although unbeknownst to most Bearcats, Olivo is a real life princess. Olivo and her family have sacred roots within the Choctaw tribe, this Native American tribe is the third-largest with over 225,00 tribal members across the U.S. “We originated in Mississippi to Oklahoma and then through the dust storms that happened, some of our people from Oklahoma moved to California,” Olivo said. She is the only Bearcat at school who is a part of this tribe; this makes a cultural mark within PRHS student diversity.
The Choctaw Tribe believes in Christian values and morals, at the beginning of their ceremonies, the princess performs the Lord’s Prayer, in a sign language dance, that honors God’s name.
“I represent California, but in general becoming princess has been a four year process. For that we have to learn all of the history of our tribe, have our traditional regalia (a dress), and have to hold ten pieces of jewelry which is our full regalia. I also had to do an interview online and the tribal council asked 22 rapid fire questions, I also had to display a talent and mine was beadwork. There were also the three essays I had to write,” Olivo said. 
Being a princess in the Choctaw tribe means completing the duties of going to perform the Lord’s Prayer during the cultural festivals and doing social dancing for the local community events. The princess title only lasts a year, but is a huge honor only awarded to a few each year. Each year, the Okla Chahta clan crowns a Little Miss, Junior Miss, and a Miss Choctaw Nation to serve as ambassadors. Olivo is the 2024 – 2025 Jr Miss Okla Chahta Clan Princess and she is also the 2025-2026 Princess Hopeful. 
This fall, Olivo will attend Cuesta College in hopes of getting her child development degree and becoming a teacher for preschoolers or for kindergarten students.
Carmesi: Bati-chica Hace Su Debut
Bearcats van a ver la única Choctaw de la clase del último año va a caminar por el monumento de guerra este Junio. Amelia Olivo, es la princesa de la tribu de Choctaw, una tribu que es nativo americano con más de 225,000 miembros en todo el país. Siendo una princesa en la tribu significa bailar un baile que le da honor y las gracias a Dios. Pero ser princesa también es un proceso largo que le tomó cuatro años para cumplir, ser princesa en la tribu tiene muchos requisitos. Olivo también es parte de la clase de banda de PRHS y es directora para la clase del desarrollo de niños.
Su maestra, Brenda Matthysee, de la clase del desarrollo de niños, la describe como una persona positiva y con mucha alegría. La conoce desde los tres años porque Olivo asistió a la escuela preescolar aquí en PRHS.
Olivo ha decidido asistir a Cuesta College y luego transferirse a una universidad. Ella quiere obtener su certificado en el desarrollo de infantes y convertirse en maestra para los niños de preescolar o kindergarten.
