Learner Spotlight: Tyson Olivieri

iLEAD Exploration learner Tyson Olivieri is a four-time jiu-jitsu world champion. This talented 8th grader is also a top-ranked athlete for Sports Jiu-Jitsu International Federation in both Gi and NoGi.  

It’s easy to see that Tyson acts daily upon this month’s habit from the 7 Habits: “Be proactive.” He trains up to two hours every day at his dojo and puts in extra time at home. He is always eager to learn new tips to better himself as an athlete. Despite the fact that there are currently no competitions, he trains hard daily to keep his skills sharp so that he will be ready when competitions resume. Tyson is an excellent example of being proactive even when things are difficult.

Tyson, age 13, began his independent study journey four years ago when some learning challenges led his family to seek options outside of the traditional classroom. They found that independent studying allowed Tyson to learn in a way that works best for him. It has turned out to be the best decision for Tyson and his education.

During his years independent studying, Tyson has shown optimism while working through many challenges, including dyslexia and ADHD, to become a successful learner. iLEAD has helped support Tyson by giving him the tools and resources he needs to be successful in his education. Jiu-jitsu has also helped instill optimism in him and has given him the confidence he needs to keep working hard in school. 

Tyson is a friendly, positive, and outgoing kid. At jiu-jitsu competitions, he has been nicknamed the Social Butterfly of the Bullpen. While he waits for a match, he likes to chat with his opponents about common interests, such as video games and surfing. Aside from jiu-jitsu, Tyson enjoys surfing, skateboarding, video gaming, reading, and playing the guitar. He has long aspired to own a business, so last year he started his own sticker business called Stick Sticky Stickers and makes unique and custom stickers.