CDS Alumni Spotlight: Alexa Gross – From CDS to Future Wildlife Conservationist
alexa gross

 

At Carrollwood Day School, we celebrate the achievements of our alumni, who continue to make a meaningful impact in their fields. Alexa Gross, Class of 2022, has a passion for veterinary medicine that has taken her from CDS, to the University of Virginia, and around the world. Through her studies and hands-on experiences, Alexa is turning her lifelong dream of working with animals into reality.

Since graduation from CDS, Alexa has seized multiple opportunities to learn and grow. Through UVA’s pre-vet study abroad program, she spent two weeks at Walkabout Wildlife Park in Australia and another two weeks in South Africa, gaining invaluable clinical skills and veterinary knowledge. Her time in Australia included shadowing keepers and participating in direct animal interactions, including working with cheetahs. She also took a memorable road trip to Kruger National Park for a safari experience. These opportunities deepened her understanding and passion for wildlife conservation, and broadened her perspective on veterinary care in different environments.

CDS Alumni Coordinator Carli Mianne ‘16 had the chance to talk with Alexa about her time at Carrollwood Day School and the impact the time here made on her life.  

Carli: What was your experience like as a student at CDS?

Alexa: The word I can confidently use to describe my decade at CDS is ‘belonging.’ No matter what endeavor I pursued, whether theatre, athletics, or academics, I always felt like an intrinsic part of the community. The faculty does a phenomenal job at making CDS feel like their students’ second home; growing up in such a supportive environment has encouraged me to seek the same level of encouragement at UVA.

Carli: What were the most positive aspects of your time at CDS?

Alexa: I found the most joy at CDS outside the classroom: at the track and on the stage. Both running and performing shaped me into the student and person I am today. Regarding academics, I reflect back on the strength of CDS’ college counseling program. Whenever I had a question about life after high school, I always knew the college counseling staff (shoutout to my advisor, Mr. Guarino) would be available and eager to provide the answers. 

Carli: What are some of your favorite memories from CDS?

Alexa: My friends and I had so much fun at our senior Disney/Aquatica trip in the fall and Gradbash at Universal in the spring. There’s so much on a senior’s plate during their last year—college applications, standardized tests, IB exams—that those trips were a really special way to take a break from it all and commemorate everything that our class had achieved.  I also look fondly at homecoming week ’21, when our class came together to drench our designated hallway with purple, the class of ’22’s color. It was an awesome display of spirit and unity, culminating in a lovely homecoming dance.

Alexa’s journey from CDS to UVA and her hands-on experiences in wildlife conservation are just the beginning of what promises to be an inspiring career. Her story is a reflection of the influence that CDS has on its students, instilling in them a passion for learning, a sense of community, and the drive to make a difference in the world. We cannot wait to see the impact Alexa makes in the world, and we are inspired and proud to be able to call her a CDS alumni!

 


We love sharing our CDS alumni achievements and are delighted to share Alexa's updates with the alumni community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli Gauthier Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!

Check out the Alumni Site Here