The career-altering moment for Alexa Rosypal, a senior at Pennridge High School, was a moment where four hurdle runners were needed, but one was missing. It was then that Alexa volunteered and became a hurdle runner. Now, she runs the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 100-meter hurdles. This moment reflects Alexa as a human being, a person willing to put herself out there in any situation to benefit herself and others. Not only does Alexa bring speed to her team, but also brings positivity. Her positivity radiates within her track team and outside of it. Apart from track, she has been a dancer for 13 years and counting, specifically in modern dance at Shannon Carney Dance Academy. She also has a job, waitressing at a restaurant, which adds responsibility to her life.
Balancing school, track, dance, and work has been a big obstacle for Alexa to face, but she manages. “One obstacle that I face is just getting enough sleep because I go to school for hours, practice for two hours, work for five hours, and then do homework and prepping for school the next day. The biggest challenge is learning how to balance everything in life and not overwhelm myself.” She goes on to explain, incorporating her life switching between her divorced parents’ houses. Every day brings new challenges, whether it’s involving a sport or balancing day-to-day life. However, she never has a negative manner about it. Even when she’s feeling down or just had a bad race, she’ll make jokes. “Even after a bad race, I’ll still try to be positive for my teammates to show them that you don’t have to be amazing to be happy.” Even with the challenges of balance, Alexa comes home every day and makes time for her family.
Her mother, Christine, paints Alexa as a hard-working woman who still presents a daughter role, making time to hang out together. “Each day she comes home and sits in the living room with me while doing her homework and talks to me about any usual things we talk about. She has a busy life but always makes sure that it’s not only about her.” Sometimes Alexa will even make time to hang out with her brother, Austin, who studies at Lehigh University, or will spend time at her father’s house and be with him. She is a family-oriented person who even counts her friends as family, making time for them too. Her dance friends describe her as “the type of friend who knows how to make you laugh and keep smiling moments after.” Alexa always surrounds herself with people who acknowledge the greatness of her character, inspiring her to keep going in all aspects.
Everyone on Alexa’s track team loves her. During events part of Pennridge but outside of the sport, some friends from track come up to her and spend time with her. She is someone who people naturally gravitate towards, with her positive energy making an impact on people. On social media, she loves to document her life to her friends, whether it’s documenting herself going on a run, talking about certain parts of her day, or showing the meal she cooked. She knows how to keep her friends engaged in her life, adding to the balance between her work, sports, and school life.
Humility is another prominent trait of hers. Alexa is one to dislike talking about herself when it comes to achievements and successes. Not because she’s not proud of herself, but because she doesn’t want to make herself comparable to anyone else. If she were to be described in three words, those words would be humble, kind, and positive. Positivity is key when it comes to being as enjoyable as Alexa is. Positivity is what makes her stand out in an environment where it is easy to be negative. She is fully supported by her coach, parents, and friends, and she is always supportive of them as well.
