Alexis Florit '23

“At PVI, I have been blessed with amazing teachers who have encouraged my curiosity and pushed me to think deeply. They have taught me the value of hard work, perseverance in the face of difficulty, and that I should never give up on my goals. I am so grateful for them pushing me to be my best and helping me be excited for all that is to come,” Alexis shares.

Alexis will attend Auburn University as a member of the Honors College and will major in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics.

Alexis says that her teachers and the environment at PVI encouraged her to challenge herself. “A huge part of what made me love math has been the environment in which I have been so blessed to learn. Mrs. Collier is the reason I decided to take extra math classes senior year; she helped me realize that the value of a challenge is immeasurable. I love the challenge that math presents and how you could solve one problem in four different ways but still get the right answer.”

In addition to her challenging course load, Alexis played field hockey and served in several leadership positions, as the senior class president, swim and dive captain, and Student Ambassadors Executive Board president.

Alexis took advantage of opportunities in and out of the classroom as she explored a variety of paths for the future. “Chemical Engineering hasn’t always been my dream field, and for the past four years at PVI, I have been experimenting with different fields to find what I love. I have attended countless labs and seminars, learning from people in all stages of their careers: college students, professionals, and even retired astronauts! In my junior year, I was lucky enough to work with BAE Systems to observe different career paths and practical applications of engineering degrees.”

Alexis loves being a woman in STEM. “Working hard, knowing that I am pursuing something I love, makes every late night, lab report, and hard test worth it. I am so excited to explore my career options and hope that I can serve as an example for other girls who want to pursue something that might seem difficult — you won’t regret it, I promise!”