Posted February 13, 2026 in Alumni Profile
Lawrence School, 2018
B.A. Malone University, 2022
M.A.Ed. Malone University, 2024
We caught up with 2018 alum Alexa Riemenschneider, a certified clinical mental health counselor, about her journey from our hallways to earning her Master’s degree. She opened up about trading anxiety for self-confidence, the power of self-advocacy, and how she now uses her own experience with learning differences to empower the young clients she supports today.
Since graduating from Lawrence, what have you been up to? Tell us about your journey through school and into your career.
Following Lawrence, I went to Malone University for my undergrad, where I was a cheerleader for both football and basketball—it was so much fun! I studied psychology and minored in ministry.
Immediately after graduating, I started graduate school at Malone for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. It’s been an amazing journey. I interned at Emerge Counseling Ministries, passed my boards to become a certified counselor, and I’ve been working there full-time for over a year now. It’s a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding.
What does your day-to-day look like as a counselor?
Currently, I see a lot of children, adolescents, and young adults. I often find myself talking about Lawrence and the lessons I’ve learned in my own journey to help clients with similar experiences. Lawrence provided so much insight into how learning differences can severely impact mental health. If the school hadn’t taught me advocacy skills and boundaries, I definitely wouldn’t have ended up where I am today.
What inspired you to pursue a helping profession like counseling?
Although my academic journey was rocky growing up, I started to really struggle with learning in eighth grade and felt that the traditional school environment wasn’t designed for the way I learn. As a teenager, I wasn’t happy about leaving my friends to go to a new school, but as soon as I heard the students speak at orientation, I knew Lawrence was what I needed.
Within the first month, my self-confidence and my personality came back. I went from being afraid to ask for help to being the student that college professors praised for communicating my accommodation needs. Seeing that same struggle in my young clients now—where they feel unsupported and start to struggle mentally—really encourages me to be that one person in their life who can say, “I get it.”
How did you know Malone University was the right fit after Lawrence?
I loved that the school was smaller. I really valued the small classrooms and one-on-one interactions I had at Lawrence, and I wanted that same community. My professors at Malone knew me by name, not just as a number on an attendance sheet. Being faith-based was a great bonus. It was also just far enough from home to feel independent, but close enough to visit if I needed to!
How did Lawrence specifically prepare you for the rigors of college?
I learned very useful study habits, but the biggest things were advocacy and recognizing that I am more than just a grade. The Learning Strategies courses were huge for me. They taught me how to problem-solve and use different techniques to study. There’s no single manual for life, but Lawrence certainly gave me the tools to figure it out.
What are some of your favorite memories from Lawrence?
I was one of the girls who successfully started the cheerleading team, which was a blast! I also loved being part of GYLI (Global Youth Leadership Institute); it was an honor to have teachers recognize my leadership potential. Other highlights include the lock-ins, which were probably my favorite, and just hanging out and chatting in the LRC (Learning Resource Center) in the mornings.
Looking back, what is the achievement you’re most proud of?
Definitely graduating with my Master’s degree. Before Lawrence, I didn’t think I would make it that far. I was just taking it day by day, thinking, “What's the point of trying if I can’t get decent grades?” When I got to Lawrence, I started meeting every academic goal I set. Earning that degree and gaining confidence in who I am because of it is my proudest moment.
What is life like for you outside of work?
When it’s summer, I love being out on the boat, and I’ve recently taken up skiing. I also spend a ton of time with my dog, Maxie, and my cat, Loki.
On a more personal note, I’m engaged! I met my fiancé while working at the Catawba Island Club after high school, and we’re actually getting married there this August. It’s a total full-circle moment.
How did your experiences and relationships at Lawrence shape who you are today?
It sounds cliché, but it really taught me to be myself. Before Lawrence, I tried to mask my ADHD and anxiety. Being there taught me not to let those things drive my life, but also not to hide them because they are a part of who I am. Lawrence helped me recognize the importance of being comfortable in my own skin. That was the biggest lesson: being okay with not being perfect, because nobody is.
What do you miss most about Lawrence?
I miss the community and the atmosphere. The teachers were so much fun and always had smiles on their faces. I miss that feeling of walking in and knowing everyone because people were just kind and respectful of one another.
Were there any spots on campus where you felt truly at home?
Honestly, it was just the act of walking into the building. I loved going to school there so much. The moment I walked in, my mood would shift because I just knew I was seen.
As a counselor, you help people navigate challenges every day. What advice would you give a new student just starting their Lawrence journey?
I’d tell them that this is the start of an amazing beginning. Don’t let yourself be held back by perceived limitations, because those can actually pave the way to something beautiful. Your journey is your own—nobody else has the same one, and that’s what makes us who we are. Use your strengths to support your weaknesses.