Whiz Kid: Alexa Steriti

Sixteen-year-old Alexa Steriti was a field hockey All-Star last season, bouncing back from a serious knee injury, but she’s making her marks off the field with her work helping other students and other people in her community.

Steriti, a junior, will turn 17 next May, and helped the to a good season last fall, making the post-season high school tournament.

Steriti used to play softball and basketball, but suffered a serious injury to her left knee, damaging the ACL and tearing the meniscus.

Steriti is a member of Best Buddies and the MVP’s, Mentors for Violence Prevention at SHS.

“I went to a Best Buddies dance last year an was really impressed with what they do, I’ve been involved with their shopping trips, their pizza parties this year, it’s been great to help others,” Steriti said.

Steriti is also a member of the Blue Crew a group that promotes healthy lifestyles and healthy eating at Swampscott High School. The Blue Crew works in conjunction with the Heart Association.

“We organize events like healthy lunch day, a fitness competition, things that promote a healthy lifestyle for high school kids,” Steriti said.

“One of my teachers my freshman year urged me to get involved, to do things, to make a difference and I took that to heart, I really enjoy helping others,” Steriti said.

Steriti suffered her knee injury her as a ninth grader, and the time away from her three sports made her think about how she could have an impact at away from the playing field.

Steriti organized a dress drive last year, getting over 250 dresses for students who needed them so they could attend their proms looking their best.

“I went to a seminar at Bentley College and they had a lot of great ideas about how you can help others in you community, I decided to run a dress drive and we gave the dresses to the Fairy Godmother Project,” Steriti said.

"I babysit too, I’ve got time, sports were such a huge commitment, and when I couldn’t play, I had to do something, I couldn’t just come home every day and sit around, I had to do something,” Steriti said.

The center-midfielder made several field hockey All-Star teams last fall, but she’s more proud of the work she does for other students and people around the North Shore.

“I made the varsity basketball team as a freshman, I worked incredibly hard to get there, unfortunately against Marblehead near the end of the game, I hurt my knee,” Steriti said.

“My knee still bothers me, it’s hard, one leg is shorter than the other, so I’ve had to work around that, but you push through it,” Steriti said.

Steriti lives in Nahant with her family, her mom runs Periwinkles Food Shoppe.

“I’m done playing softball, but sometimes I wish I played basketball again,” Steriti said.

“My favorite classes are math and gym, I’m not too fond of English,” Steriti said.

“Sports are great, but I get the most satisfaction from doing things for others,” Steriti said.