Month of the Military Kid 2023: Q&A with Olivia Wahl

Olivia Wahl
A photo of Olivia Wahl with a statue of Bucky Badger.

In recognition of Month of the Military Kid, we’d like to introduce some of our exceptional military kids. Meet Olivia Wahl!

Olivia is a second-year student studying biology. She enjoys running, trivia, science, the Packers, and watching Badger soccer games. In the future, she plans to attend medical school with hopes of becoming a surgeon.

Q: What brought you to UW-Madison?
A: I came to Madison because it provides me with so many opportunities to be successful in different ways. The level of research was very intriguing to me, and the size of the school excited me. I also was compelled by the athletic culture at UW Madison.

Q: To be a military kid means to have a direct family connection to someone who has served or is currently serving, often a parent or guardian. Can you share more about who the servicemember is in your life?
A: Both of my parents have served in the military. My mom served in the Army for a few years, then got out before having my sister and me. My dad was in the Army for 24 years and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) in 2017. My experience as a military kid has been shaped by his time in the Army.

Olivia Wahl, her sister, and her dad.
A photo of Olivia, her sister, and her dad after he was recognized as the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (CID) Soldier of the Year in 2008.

Q: How do you describe your military connection to others?
A: I usually talk about my dad and that because of his work, we moved a lot throughout my childhood. Nobody assumes that I have lived anywhere other than Wisconsin, so the conversation usually comes up when I bring up something from when I lived in other states. From there, the conversation usually turns into how I was an Army kid.

Q: What have you learned from being a military kid?
A: More than anything, I have learned to be adaptable. I have lived in places that had very different cultures. Now, I can be dropped in almost any situation and turn out okay. This was helpful in college because my transition to college life was easier than most, I’d say. I have also come to appreciate how nice it is to have military connections all over. If I am going on a trip anywhere, I can typically find somebody that my parents served with that is willing to help me out in any way.

Q: Depending on your personal experiences, growing up as a military kid may or may not be a large part of your identity. Would you say your experiences as a military kid are unique? If so, can you share why?
A: In general, I would not say that my time as a military kid was too unique. I moved around a lot and my dad was deployed for long periods of time just like a lot of other kids. I have not had the chance to talk with many other military kids about their experiences, but I do know that by having my dad deploy and by moving around, my sister and I have grown very close. We always had to be each other’s first friend when we moved somewhere new. I am not sure if other siblings feel the same effect of their experiences.

Olivia Wahl with her parents.
Pictured: Olivia with her mom and dad a few years ago on a camping trip. Now that her dad is fully retired, they really enjoy camping through the summer.

Q: What do you wish more people knew about being a military kid?
A: I wish more people knew that I do not look back and feel sad about having to move away from my friends or about my dad missing big events in my life. I think I am very fortunate to have been able to see a lot of the world and meet all kinds of people. Each place I have lived in has shaped a part of my personality. And as for my dad being gone a lot, it has only shown me that relationships can be maintained from afar. I have also been able to watch my mom take care of my sister and I with no help which has shaped my independence that I have today.