Berkeley Carroll is proud to celebrate Middle School student Gia O. ’30, whose remarkable talent and dedication to writing have earned her an outstanding nine awards in this year’s Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, including four Gold Keys.

Gia’s achievements contribute to an already impressive showing for Berkeley Carroll students, who collectively earned 79 Scholastic Awards this year: 17 Gold Keys, 20 Silver Keys, and 42 Honorable Mentions across art and writing categories. Among this talented group, Gia’s work stands out for both its range and depth, spanning poetry, journalism, fiction, and more.

When she first learned the news, Gia recalls being caught off guard. “It was in the middle of humanities and I was really, really surprised.” 

These awards build on an already exciting writing journey. Last year, Gia received national recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, earning a Silver Medal for her humor piece The Great Couch Conspiracy. That piece, inspired by something as ordinary as a couch, reflects her unique approach to writing, and finding meaning in everyday moments. “There’s a lot that happens that you can take for granted,” she explained. “I like to pay attention to the little things.”

Gia’s curiosity and attentiveness to the world around her are central to her creative process. She describes many of her pieces, especially her poetry, as “brain dumps” of small, meaningful moments, ideas she observes, captures, and shapes over time. While she enjoys writing across genres, poetry remains her favorite. “I’ve been writing it the longest,” she said, “but short stories are a close second.”

Her growth as a writer has been shaped in large part by her experiences at Berkeley Carroll. Through a rich Humanities curriculum that emphasizes both analytical and creative writing, Gia has had the opportunity to explore a wide range of styles and develop her voice over time. Reflecting on her early writing, she remembers trying to imitate other authors before realizing the importance of authenticity. “Writing is supposed to be your thoughts,” she said. “You have to use your voice, not someone else’s.”

Gia credits her teachers with helping her reach that understanding. From Lower School through Middle School, she has benefited from thoughtful, specific feedback and opportunities to experiment with different forms of writing. “The writing is spread out over different genres, so it really helps that you get to practice different styles,” she shared. “Teachers are always there to give meaningful support.”

Looking ahead, Gia is excited to continue exploring her craft. She hopes to begin writing a novel this summer and is interested in doing more journalism after recently writing an article on teen sleep. “It’s really fun just talking to people and then writing it down,” she said. “You’re giving them a voice.”

For other students interested in writing, Gia offers simple but powerful advice: “Use your voice. You have a lot of ideas that people deserve to hear.”

We congratulate Gia on this incredible achievement and look forward to seeing where her writing journey takes her next.