The TCI operation manager, one selected from all students in each class, and a member of the Cheerleading team, always hits her targets with her emulated archery skills and always comes back up, no matter the injury. We’re talking about Alexa Cruz(right photo), a dedicated Leyden student. Alexa Cruz, a senior in East Leyden High School, is part of the Cheerleading team. She has been recognized for her hard work and determination. Now she is going to graduate and has plans for her future and how Leyden’s Adventure PE helped her overcome challenges. “There were many times I felt proud of myself in PE when I reached a milestone, but the one time I felt more proud was the time I climbed the High Ropes in the field house. From the time I was putting on my harness to the time I was finally back on the ground, I was scared. I don’t do well with heights, but I managed to overcome my fear for a bit and had a fun time. Something I probably would’ve never done anywhere else.” Alexa overcomes her challenges and now has new ones, her career choices and paths. She didn’t know if this was the path she wanted to take until she rediscovered her passion for teaching. “I had to figure out which university was right for me, what subject I wanted to do, and even if I wanted to become a teacher. But at the start of senior year, when I was given leadership roles, I realized how much I actually loved teaching others new things.” Alexa, a senior, started to pursue her career because it was her passion and how PE has been a beneficial factor in her life and what it has taught her. “I feel that trust in not only yourself but others is a huge thing you can learn in Adventure Ed that you can’t really learn in a classroom. You learn very quickly that if you don’t put trust in the class, you won’t go anywhere.” Alexa is not just building a career. She’s gaining new life lessons. “I plan on being a high school teacher in the future. I’m already enrolled into Triton so I could take their scholarship of the first two years for free so I could take care of my Gen Ed’s. Afterwards, I plan on transferring to Dominican University to finish my degree. Later, I would love to come back to Leyden and teach.” Alexa has been making big progress and has plans for her future. She has already enrolled in Triton and plans to transfer to Dominican University so she can finish her degree and come back to teach at Leyden. “One most noted was the Women In STEM Panel I attended for 3 years now that I light and host. I’ve learned from the women who came and spoke about their experience that it’s okay not to know everything and you just go with what your heart desires. That made me feel better about my choices and felt security about my future.” And now she will finish her senior year and continue to pursue her career and shares a quote that inspires her: genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist – Tony Stark. “That quote reminds me that life will always be hard, but at least I have a hard life while being rich and smart.”