Growing With Purpose: Her Future in Child Psychology

By AMBER CARLISLE

August 1, 2026

CANTON, Ohio - Before Alexis Shenefelt writes a single page in the survival guide she is creating, she makes sure the information is right. She researches edible plants, recipes that can be made from them, wilderness survival skills and even poisonous plants to avoid. Some sections venture into fictional territory, with ideas for surviving zombies and vampires, but even then, she wants the information rooted in research. For Alexis, curiosity comes before the writing.

That same curiosity has helped shape the 16-year-old into someone who hopes to spend her life understanding people. She plans to pursue a doctorate in child psychology, but she is also honest enough to admit she is still growing herself.

"How am I supposed to become a child psychologist if I don't know how to talk to people?" she said with a laugh.

It is a question that reflects who Alexis is. She has a clear vision of where she wants to go, but she understands that getting there will take time, experience and patience.

Alexis recently moved to Canton, Ohio with her family making this her fifth state of residence. Her family's first move took them from Wyoming to Arizona to be closer to relatives. Later, moves for her father's job took them to New Mexico, Texas and now Ohio. Each move meant leaving behind friends, family and familiar surroundings. Although she admits she never enjoys hearing that another move is coming, she has learned to adapt.

"Usually, every time I hear that we're moving, I'm pretty angry," Alexis said. "But then once we get there, I'm just like, 'I guess it's not that bad.'"

Moving from Odessa, Texas, to Northeast Ohio brought one of the biggest changes yet. After years surrounded by wide open landscapes and fewer trees, Ohio looked completely different.

"I've made peace with the trees," she joked.

Despite moving so often, Alexis has continued to find comfort in learning and creating. She describes herself as creative, funny and hesitant to try new things. While those traits may seem to contradict one another, they have helped shape the way she approaches life. She is willing to step outside her comfort zone, even when it makes her nervous.

That was especially true when she interviewed at Marshalls for her first job. Alexis admitted she was so nervous before the interview that she thought she might throw up. By the end of the conversation, however, she felt comfortable with the interviewer and was offered the job. Rather than focusing on earning a paycheck, she sees the opportunity as another chance to grow.

She hopes working in retail will help her become more confident talking with people, a skill she believes will be important if she wants to work with children one day.

Another place where Alexis feels most comfortable is nose deep in a sketchbook. Drawing has become one of her favorite creative outlets. Whether she is sketching Spider-Man, portraits or darker Halloween-inspired themes, art gives her a way to express herself outside the classroom. School art classes, however, were not always enjoyable.

"The teachers kind of made it not fun," she said.

Even so, she never stopped drawing.

Instead, she continued creating at home simply because she enjoyed it.

Her interest in psychology, though, came from an unexpected place.

After watching the Netflix series Adolescence, Alexis became fascinated with understanding why people think and behave the way they do. At first, she imagined herself studying criminal psychology, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she wanted to take a different path.

"What if I do children instead?" she remembers thinking.

She hopes to help children who may not have the support they need at home while also helping them better understand their emotions and feelings. She enjoys learning about how the brain works and is excited by the science behind psychology.

"As long as I don't have to do any math," she laughs.

Although Alexis already has a career goal in mind, she knows there are still many decisions ahead, including where she will attend college. She is not rushing those choices. Instead, she believes each experience, whether it is moving to a new state, starting a new job or learning something unfamiliar, is another step toward becoming the person she hopes to be.

When asked what she hoped readers would take away from her story, her answer came without hesitation.

"Patience."