Alexis Mentzel: Realizing Dreams Through Change & Growth

When considering what she hopes to accomplish in her life, Alexis “Lexi” Mentzel is looking to combine her two interests of communication and theology. “I’d like to impact people with my words to better their lives, introducing them to faith or helping them in their walk with it.” 

If she was asked that same question before coming to Saint Louis University, however, she would have had a much different answer.

Coming to college is a major change in anyone’s life. For the first time you are away from home, on your own, sometimes in a new city or state, and you have the chance to make all of your own decisions and really start to figure out who you are. It is a time of growth and change for many, and this was no different for Lexi.

Originally from Mitchell, a town of about 16,000 in South Dakota, coming to a city like Saint Louis was a big change for Lexi. SLU had been on her mind since 8th grade, with her sights set on a future of medical school. It was in middle school that this goal really turned into a priority, and for the next few years she immersed herself in as many after school clubs as possible to help her along the way.

  When she began her freshman year at SLU, it was not long before her dreams changed. The science classes were a struggle, and although she had dedicated high school to setting herself up for success in the medical field, her passions changed as she grew as a person. Initially though, figuring out what those passions were was not easy. “It was really scary at first having to think of everything else I was possibly interested in.”

 In order to stay on track to graduate a semester early she spent that next summer in classes, finishing a total of nine credits. One of those classes was a communications course, which sparked her interest in the field. “I spent alot of time praying over it, so once I took that summer course it kind of clicked for me and I was able to see myself actually enjoying a career in communications.” Later deciding on an emphasis in journalism, Mentzel says she likes the writing aspect, but not exactly journalism specifically. As for theology, that minor is a recent addition. 

Growing up in a Christian home, faith has always been apart of her life but her experience in Chi Alpha, a Christian fellowship at SLU, is what really got her into wanting to "spread God’s word in [her] everyday life." Through both large group and smaller Bible studies Lexi has come to see the importance of God’s word more, and has been influenced to work towards a job in either a church or a nonprofit group. 

Nowadays Lexi keeps herself busy, between volunteering in both the nursery and youth group at her church, an online internship, writing for Her Campus, and her classes. To Lexi though, balancing everything isn’t hard because she has quickly learned a valuable life lesson: "if you like what you’re doing, it won’t feel like a chore."