CATCHING UP WITH ...

-- Amy R. Spurgeon

By the time she was 12 years old, there wasn’t much Newport Elementary

sixth-grader Alexandra Dulien couldn’t do or hadn’t done.

Observers in 1992 said she was destined to be the next Olympic gold

medalist in swimming or even president of the United States.

By sixth grade, Dulien -- a stellar athlete and gifted leader -- had been

elected student body president, managed to become the school’s first

female football player and was responsible for organizing several

charitable school events.

“She is full of creative ideas and is a good leader,” then-principal Bill

Knight said at the time. “She is an all-around great girl.”

Growing up in a large family in Newport Beach, Dulien credited her older

brother Logan with being a great motivator and one of the reasons for her

success.

“He has always inspired me,” Dulien said.

Dulien’s goals included working hard throughout her elementary and

secondary education and then one day attending UCLA. She wanted someday

to teach after trying out for the Olympic team in swimming.

“I know that I must study hard and earn a great education in order to do

what I want in the future,” Dulien said.

But somewhere along the way, her personal life -- mainly her parents’

divorce that started when she was in the third grade -- caught up with

her.

Dulien, now 19, barely graduated from Newport Harbor High School in June.

In September, after just three days at Hawaii Pacific University in Oahu,

she returned to Orange County.

“I feel like I’ve made the wrong decision in coming home from college,”

Dulien said last week. “I don’t feel like I am being productive enough

here with my time.”

Now a freshman at OCC, Dulien reflected about her past. She said she

appreciates the athletic and leadership opportunities provided to her

when she was in school. Those activities allowed her to turn her anger

and confusion into something positive.

But by the time she entered Newport Harbor High School as a junior, she

was burned out. A sports-related injury and failure to be elected class

president changed her outlook on life.

“I was just confused and I still am,” Dulien said.

But she does recognize her potential in helping others, a gift she

realized while working part-time jobs at Costa Mesa’s Brett’s Photo

Express and Huggs and Kissez, a scrapbooking store.

Her new goals include finishing her general education at OCC and

enrolling at Pepperdine or UCLA next fall. She would like to run her own

business one day.

Between point A and point B, she said she will follow her heart and God’s

overall plan.

“I have created my own life out of my family situation,” Dulien said. “I

have nothing to hide.

“Everyone has their ups and downs. I just have to find that spotlight for

myself again.”