In 2008, Alexa Rowland made one of the toughest choices in her life. The Hopewell graduate found herself having to decide between separating from her mother, twin brother and other siblings in Ohio and creating a better life for herself hundreds of miles away in Charlotte. She chose the latter.

Alexa said, “I wanted to do something for myself”.

Her home situation was not ideal for a student seeking to excel. Even at a young age, Alexa realized that moving to live with her aunt and uncle in North Carolina would give her the opportunity to become a better person and help others. The transition was a difficult one for her.  Her counselor Kim Panzetta recalled the many times Alexa would try to convince her that life would be better for her to return to Ohio.

Alexa persevered and stayed in Charlotte to complete her education. Her hard work was awarded with a full scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She plans to major in sociology and to become a probation officer with a focus on helping teens. 

“I would have given anything to have someone to talk to, someone who understood what I was going through,” said Alexa.

It was Alexa’s desire to help others that motivated her to assist Hopewell teens.  In 2010 she began the Hopewell High Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Club, where students are able to receive information about birth control options.