Fort Stockton’s Alexia Galindo became the example of a good teammate throughout her high school career.
Whether it was in volleyball, basketball or cheerleading, she always showed leadership qualities to help her teams succeed.
Galindo’s positive attitude also helped outside of sports, where she became a Texas Scholar and is set to be an honor graduate in Fort Stockton High School’s Class of 2022.
To achieve the best results in all facets of her life, Galindo knew she needed to make enough time to complete all of her assignments.
“At school, I would get up in the morning, have to be there on time and do my work during the school day as much as I can,” Galindo said. “I knew after school I had practices and after practice I would find time to study for about two hours or an hour.”
Her routine-making ability was helpful when she also participated in other extracurricular activities like student council or the National Honor Society.
Fort Stockton volleyball coach Gabrielle Harral first met Galindo over the summer before starting her first season at the helm of the program.
It didn’t take long for the coach to notice the impact Galindo had on the rest of her teammates.
“From the first time I met her, she was always so positive, she had a good attitude and she was friends with everyone,” Harral said.
Harral added that Galindo had something special and possessed the skill of being consistently encouraging to those around her.
That led Harral to create a Most Valuable Teammate award for Galindo, which she received at the school’s sports banquet.
“I told her, “That surpasses MVP, that surpasses Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year because you have to be a teammate when you’re playing sports,’” Harral said. “She’s always so positive, I just fell in love with her the first day I met her.
“She’s a sweet girl and she’s going to do good in whatever she does.”
After high school, Galindo plans on studying to be a dental assistant at Odessa College with the ultimate goal of becoming a dental hygienist.
She took dual-credit courses, so she’ll be a step ahead when she starts her first semester of college.
“I’ve always had the feeling to want to help others, no matter what way it is,” Galindo said of her preferred career choice. “I know I’ll be starting off as a dental assistant, but later on I’ll go to a dental hygienist and start having my own patients, and helping them.
“There’s going to be different opportunities every single day for me to learn and grow.”
Midland is a preferred work destination for Galindo in the future because it’s close to her hometown.
She has love for Fort Stockton and being an hour-and-a-half away would give her the chance to visit when she wants to.
Competing in athletics during high school taught Galindo how to push through various challenges to achieve a desired result.
“I just have to believe that if you’re determined to do something, even if it’s not what everybody else is doing, you just do it in life,” Galindo said. “Whatever is best for you.”
Harral said it was important to have an athlete like Galindo on the volleyball team to help the transition to the new coaching system in their first and only year together.
The volleyball coach said Galindo played an important role in maintaining high energy when the team needed it.
“I knew I could count on her for anything when I put her on the court and off the court,” Harral said. “Even in school, she’s always so respectful to her teachers and they always just have good things to say about her.”
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
ALEXIA GALINDO
FORT STOCKTON
>> Academic Rank: 23 of 150
>> Sports: Cheerleading; Volleyball; Basketball
>> Academic bio: Texas Scholar; Honor Banquet Attendee (4 years); Honor Graduate (GPA of 4.5+)
>> Athletic bio: Varsity Cheerleader (2 years); Volleyball (Varsity captain); Basketball (Varsity captain)
>> Activities: Student Council (4 years); National Honor Society (2 years); Youth Leadership
>> College and major: Odessa College (Dental Assistant)
>> Goals for the future: To become a dental hygienist and continue my training within the dental field
>> Favorite subject: Math
>> Favorite book: The Faul in Our Stars
>> Favorite musician: Parker McCollum
>> Role model: Araly Galindo (sister)
