This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hampton U chapter.
Alexis Perry’s devotion to service is no secret. This senior, psychology major has a passion for changing women’s lives and is doing so right here at Hampton University. When she’s not busy being a student, Alexis participates in several organizations created to help others around her. She serves as the director of Hampton University’s Women’s Caucus, a Co-Founder for Q.U.E.E.N’s (a mentoring group for young girls) and a Student Leader in the Greer Dawson Student Leadership Program. Alexis took her ideas to help others and passion to create change and ran with it. Her Campus got to chat with this leading lady and learn exactly what motivates her to inspire others.
HC: Talk about your vision when co-founding Q.U.E.E.N’s.
AP: Q.U.E.E.N’S stands for quintessentially utilizing elegance to empower and nurture young girls.The reason why we wanted to start Q.U.E.E.N’s was because we saw that there are several girls going through the same struggles that we went through. We want to be able to give back to our communities. We also want to be different than the rest of girls mentoring programs. We wanted to be that mentor, sister, and friend to young girls.
HC: Tell us about your experience with Women’s Caucus and your goals as Director.
AP: My experience has been a journey! I remember joining the group freshman year. There were so many girls. However, it just didn’t reach it’s potential. It was just at a standstill and I remember thinking, “this is something that I want to change. And I know I can take Women’s Caucus to a new height.” I was able to become the assistant director my sophomore year and then become the director my junior year. This gave me the opportunity to learn from the other leaders and see what I needed to tweak. My goal as a director is to see women grow and come together as one. I’m tired of strong Black women fighting against each other when we can come together and be one powerhouse.
HC: You have made a big impact on Hampton’s campus. What type of legacy do you want to leave behind?
AP: Honestly, I feel like I’ve left my legacy already. I’ve left little nuggets in individuals. I’ve reached out to different women in different ways. They look at their confidence and self-esteem in a better light. I think me showing my struggles and turning my insecurities into a positive and embracing who I am and showing everyone is the biggest legacy I could leave. I don’t need titles and positions to leave a legacy. I just want to change young girls’ lives and I think that I’ve done that.
HC: What has inspired you to inspire others?
AP: My failures! Let me tell you, I have had so many no’s in my life, its ridiculous! I think now that I am accepting those no’s, I can handle things better. I’ve gotten so many and they’ve never broken me. I am very resilient and I know God does everything for a reason. I didn’t have that person to inspire me and motivate me when I did get those no’s. Every time I get the chance to inspire someone, I want to do that because I know what it was like to not have someone else.
HC: What goals do you have for yourself?
AP: After I go to law school, I want to open my own group home in the next two years. I’m working on that now. I want to bring Q.U.E.E.N’s to Louisville, Kentucky. I’m definitely going to be impacting my community in all aspects. And eventually I want to be a family court judge. Over all, I just want to make a difference.
HC: Who inspires you?
AP: I would have to say the girls that I work with. I’ve worked with girls residential homes for the last five years. I’ve never had people look up to me to the point where they’re like “Miss Alexis, I really admire you. I admire your drive. Don’t give up.” This is why I’m doing what I’m doing, because I know that I have the potential to change girls’ lives.