My name is Alexa Pralle. I am from Hanover, KS, a small town about two hours northwest of Atchison and about nine miles from the Nebraska border. Growing up in Hanover, I love that community, everyone knows your name sort of feel. Therefore, I chose to attend Benedictine. I am currently a sophomore here where I am majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in management and minoring in economics. With my major I hope to be able to eventually open a shoe store or a wedding planner shop. Although I have been in Atchison for almost two years, I honestly do not know much about the community. So, with this class I want to become more involved and learn more about the town.

The doors open and black flowing skirts with bright beaming faces would flock to the door saying, "Eleanor! Eleanor! It is so nice to see you!" Then the nuns would give my great-grandmother a hug and pinch the cheeks of my mother and aunt. When my mother and aunt attended St. John's Catholic School in Hanover, Kansas, they were primarily taught by nuns. At the time, the nuns were unable to drive. Therefore, my great-grandmother, sometimes accompanied by my mom and aunt, would take them back and forth from the school in Hanover to Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison. Ever since I was little, I have heard stories about those trips back and forth from Atchison. As a result, when I think of Atchison one of the first things that come to my mind is the Mount. My mother has great memories of those days spent in Atchison with her grandmother and passed those great memories down to me.

Another big part of Atchison is Benedictine College. When I was in sixth grade, I visited Atchison and Benedictine for the first time. My mother, brother, and I rode with the college students to Washington D.C. for the March for Life. After the march a cousin, who was attending Benedictine, walked us around the campus and I knew it was the college I wanted to attend. Both of these religious places brought me to Atchison, and they continue to bring my family.