Alex Goodrich, 18, is a Marquette University freshman studying nursing and a member of the school’s track and field team where she runs the 400-meter hurdles. Alex, a member of St. Louis Parish, Caledonia, has participated on four mission trips through her youth ministry group called ACTS (Active Catholic Teens in Service), where she served in Detroit, Cincinnati, Pittsburg and New Orleans. Her most recent experience took place in the Dominican Republic last summer, with a service group led by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. At Marquette, she is a member of Athletes in Action, a Christian-based service club for student athletes and she is involved in the Marquette University Student Nursing Association. A graduate of Union Grove High School, Union Grove, she is also a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for group homes near her hometown in Franksville and she is a member of the Emergency Medical Society.

School and/or occupation:

Freshman at Marquette University, studying nursing.

Alex Goodrich sits on the rocks of Lake Michigan at Veterans Park, Milwaukee, in a September 2016 photo. (Submitted photo courtesy Alex Goodrich)

What is your dream job?

I want to be a nurse at Children’s Hospital, either in oncology or intensive care. Eventually, I want to take my knowledge of nursing to a Third World country.

What’s on your iPod?

A little bit of everything; so country to Christian to pop and alternative. For me it depends on what mood I’m in and I think there’s music for all kinds of moods.

If you could dine with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

This is a very hard question. I’d have to say Mary (the mother of God), because she’s been through so much. I think you can learn something from everyone and she’s definitely a person you can learn a lot from. From losing her son, being shut out from society to everything she’s been through.

Who had made the biggest impact on you?

I would say my mom, she’s taught me it’s important to stand up for what you believe in. She has four daughters and I am the youngest. I remember growing up, whether it was a sports event we were in or a concert, we could look out to the crowd and see her cheering us on. She’s always been there for us. Whenever I have a bad day, she helps talk me through it and see the good side. She’s always supported me in what I want to do, even when I went to the Dominican Republic.

My grandma is also very important to me. She’s not only has taught me a lot about my faith but also a lot about strength and what it means to be family. She is definitely a strong center for my family, and she is the reason we are so close. She is one of the strongest women I know, as she has battled and is battling cancer.

What’s one thing that makes you unique?

I’d say my love of learning, so whether it’s in school, my faith life or learning about others; I love expanding my knowledge. If we’re talking about school, I’ve taken a couple outside classes while I was in high school to be a certified EMT and CNA. I also like going out and meeting new people and learning about them.

Describe a normal weekend:

My weekends differ if I’m at home or school. Either way, Saturday is normally getting my homework done and during the evening it’s hanging out with friends, getting frozen yogurt and watching a movie. Sundays have always been family days for me; in the morning, if I’m at home, I’ll go to church with my family or if I’m at school I’ll go to church with my sister, Cassy, she’s at Marquette with me as well. For the rest of Sunday, it’s a relaxing day and getting ready for the next week.

Favorite Bible story/Scripture passage/prayer:

My favorite story is the Parable of the Lost Sheep. There’s 100 sheep, one is missing and the shepherd goes out to find it. For me it’s very encouraging to know that if you get lost and you’re just the one person who’s lost that God doesn’t give up on finding you, even if he has everyone else.

Favorite quote:

I don’t know who said it, but my mom says it to me a lot, it’s, “She believed she could, so she did.” For me, it became a really big thing for me last year because I actually had two shoulder surgeries in high school and I was a track runner. So I had them right before the season and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to race my senior season in track and I did. I kept pushing so I knew I would reach my goal.

What is your favorite food, dessert?

I don’t actually have a favorite; my answer would change depending on my mood.

A challenge in life that has strengthened your faith:

I always love going on mission trips, my first one was the summer before I went into high school. All the trips were in the states, but the fifth one took place last summer and it was in the Dominican Republic that was the most challenging one for me. I have to say it was because I’m the type of person that likes to be home and close to my family, so it was hard for me to go out of the country. I have never been out of the country before and I had to take a ton of precautions, which made me a little nervous. I was going to a place I didn’t know and I didn’t know a single person on the trip, which was a big thing for me because on the previous trips, I knew at least one other person. I was also the youngest person on the trip. It was a little nerve racking but I absolutely loved it and I’m very happy I went; it was definitely a leap of faith.

Favorite pastime/hobby/activity:

I have a couple. Obviously, volunteering is one that I love; it always brings a smile to my face. I also enjoy running and the other thing I enjoy doing, as another stress-reliever, is painting. But I love doing things with my friends, whether its getting dinner or watching a movie, I never fail to have a good time when I’m with the people that I love.

What is the most important thing you want to accomplish in life?

Living a life of happiness; so whether it’s me creating it, sharing it or promoting it, I just want to live a life that’s full of it.

How do you live your faith every day?

I always listen to worship music, whether I’m relaxing or working on homework. I also like coloring books. I have one that has Bible quotes; I know it’s a kind of like a little kid thing to do, but I love coloring. I talk about my faith with my friends a lot and I like to pray.

Name one guilty pleasure:

Ice cream dates. I live pretty close to Culver’s, I’d probably go once a week when I’m at home.