Gratitude is something we can always use more of, but that doesn’t mean it comes easily, especially when we face difficulties that are out of our control.
Alexa Dectis of Pennsylvania was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy as a toddler and relies on a powered wheelchair and other people to get by. But rather than sink into despair after realizing what she couldn’t do with her body, she focused on what she could do with her mind.
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One of her many talents is acting. As a child, she appeared in commercials, movies, and television shows, including “Sesame Street.” That’s what sparked her interest in the legal side of the entertainment industry.
So after she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from George Washington University, she headed to Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law.
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“All I want to do is work,” Alexa explained. “It’s really what I live for. So many people don’t care to reach their full potential in life, and so knowing that I’m able to go to law school and work is something I’m so thankful for.”
She graduated in May and couldn’t be prouder that she has never let anything keep her from pursuing her dreams. Of course, she’s only just beginning!
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She recently shared another triumph in a heartwarming video on Instagram. In it, we see her surrounded by friends as she receives some fantastic news. She wrote, “This weekend I found out I passed the California Bar Exam.”
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“If not for my inability to move my muscles, I would not have felt the need to focus solely on my brain,” she continued. “For that, I am thankful for spinal muscular atrophy. Every hardship is a blessing in disguise.”
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She is such a wonderful example of someone who lives their life to the fullest and always finds something to be grateful for. What an inspiration!
Watch Alexa celebrate with her friends in the video below, and share to congratulate her for the incredible achievement!
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