On a recent Friday afternoon, 16-year-old Alexa Dectis was at home in Allentown, finishing up some schoolwork, just a few hours removed from a session in New York City with her vocal coach where she’s working on recording her first CD.
A crazy schedule is nothing new for this PA Cyber sophomore, who is not only an honor roll student and a talented singer and songwriter, but also the 2009 Pennsylvania State Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Just after Alexa’s first birthday, she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II (SMA2), which the MDA describes as a motor neuron disease that primarily affects voluntary muscle movement in her shoulders, hips, thighs and upper back. She has been restricted to a wheelchair for most of her life.
Instead of choosing to focus on her disabilities, Alexa has made a conscious effort to emphasize her many gifts and abilities. She is an advocate for finding a cure for the disease that has stricken her.
“If I view life as positive and look at things from a positive perspective, I’ll be happier and might even help change the world,” she said.
Straight-A Student
Alexa’s parents, Peter and Julie Dectis, enrolled Alexa in PA Cyber two years ago after home-schooling her through the beginning of her educational career.
Alexa believes that being a student at PA Cyber, rather than in a more traditional school setting, has helped her juggle a schedule full of MDA appearances across the state as well as recording and vocal sessions in New York.
“It’s amazing because so many kids dream of (what I’m doing) and I’m actually living it,” she said. “By going to PA Cyber, I can do schoolwork when I’m available and on weekends if I have to be in the recording studio during the week. I can still maintain my grades and get a good education and do what I love to do all at the same time.”
Alexa’s Instructional Supervisor at PA Cyber, Brad Inman, says the straight-A student has always gone above and beyond her academic requirements, including completing two additional credits over her required 5.25 in her freshman year.
“Once she figures out what she’s doing for the week, then she counteracts by scheduling her schoolwork around it,” Brad said. “It doesn’t affect her one bit.”
As a sophomore at PA Cyber, Alexa is also taking classes at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Allentown, where she hopes to earn an associate degree by the time she’s 18.
“That’s just the type of student and person she is,” Brad said. “She’s one of the most motivated people, not just students, I know. She hasn’t let her handicap get in the way of anything.”
Alexa’s ultimate goal is to graduate from both PA Cyber and Lehigh Carbon, then attend a four-year school and double major. Communications is her chosen field, at least for the moment.
“(My major) changes every week,” she admitted. “Law, psychology and communications are the three big ones though.”
By going to PA Cyber, I can do schoolwork when I’m available and on weekends if I have to be in the recording studio during the week. I can still maintain my grades and get a good education and do what I love to do all at the same time.”
Singer and songwriter
During her most recent trip to New York City, Alexa said she spent time working with her vocal coach, Cari Cole, on the final song for her CD, which she hopes will be released sometime this summer.
“I’ve been singing since I could talk,” Alexa said with a laugh.
The five-track disc, which is still untitled, will feature all original songs that were co-written with Cari. Alexa says she provides the lyrics, while Cari writes the music. Her style is a mix of pop and rock.
“I really don’t know how many songs I’ve written,” Alexa said. “I have little notes everywhere for ideas.”
She enjoys waiting outside Cari’s studio for her lessons. “There are some really talented local New York musicians. If I’m outside the studio while they’re in there, I can listen and learn from them.”
Four years as MDA Ambassador
Alexa uses her vocal skills in conjunction with her work for the MDA. She recently performed her song “Progression” at the Black and Blue Ball in Allentown, and has sung for other fundraisers and events across the state.
In her fourth year as MDA State Ambassador, Alexa says her primary responsibilities are to meet with sponsors to thank them for donations, and to encourage volunteers and raise their morale.
“It’s a great job because not only am I making a difference because they’re helping to find a cure for me, but I’m hoping that we find a cure for everyone,” said Alexa. “It’s very rewarding.”
Alexa also gets to enjoy some rewards for her service. She has had the opportunity to mix and mingle with celebrities including Hilary and Hayley Duff, and Miley Cyrus. Most exciting was a recent opportunity to meet and have a picture taken with the Jonas Brothers.
“I don’t know any teenage girl that doesn’t love them,” she said. “My friends were all so happy for me.”
Representing the MDA at schools and fund-raising events provides Alexa with a lot of personal satisfaction.
“I get to meet with kids and go to schools and talk to them,” she said. “They have a fundraiser called a ‘Hop-a-Thon’ where the kids hop to raise money for MDA. I talk to them and teach them about my wheelchair.
“That’s definitely as exciting as meeting famous people.”
Goals: Oprah and Nickelodeon
While she continues to work on her education, singing-songwriting, and MDA advocacy, Alexa has two very specific goals she’d like to reach.
“I’ve wanted to be on the ‘Oprah’ show since I was five,” she said. “It’s the biggest talk show out there and I’ll be able to reach millions of people by being on her show. In just one hour I’ll be able to change the world at least a little bit.”
Her other goal? To be nominated for and win a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for one of her singing performances.
“By having kids vote for me, despite the fact I’m in a wheelchair, it’ll expose them to different types of people at a young age,” she explained. “If they grow up thinking that way, and thinking that different types of people are normal, then they’ll eventually pass it on to their children.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I would love to accomplish that.”
Through his experiences with her at PA Cyber, Brad has no doubt that Alexa can do anything she puts her mind to.
“Personally, I don’t have anyone else with as much on his or her plate as Alexa does,” he said. “If there’s any young teenager who could be a role model, it would be her.”
And that’s exactly what Alexa hopes.
“When people meet me or see me, I hope they realize their own potential,” she said. “If I can sit here in this chair and have a CD out and write songs, then they’re capable of anything. Their potential is so great.” •