Peak Support Q&A: Alyssa Hedrick

Alyssa is a team lead for our U.S. team. She joined Peak Support in 2020, and learned about the company through her previous job. At the height of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s (TV show) popularity in the 90s, Alyssa had bit of crush on Spike’s character (played by James Marsters.) Outside of work, you can find Alyssa playing Valheim – a fun, Viking survival game. She’s very talented and has been creating digital art since 2003. Alyssa also loves photography, painting, and making things with the Cricut machine. A quiet getaway to a cabin in the woods or near the water, with her wife, and their dog is her idea of a perfect vacation. Want to know something cool about Alyssa? She’s fond of exploring abandoned buildings. Her favorite one was a hidden multimillion dollar mansion that she and her friends visited. Get to know Alyssa a little more by reading Peak Support’s March Q&A blog.

What’s funniest movie of all time?

It’s a tie between Vacation (2015) and Wanderlust (2012). I watched both movies multiple times and laughed every time. I think just the type of humor resonates with me, and I love the conversations that would go on in these movies.

A somewhat funny story, I was okay at the end of it – but when I saw Wanderlust for the first time, I ended up giving myself an asthma attack from the utterly uncontrollable laughter, I was quite literally ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing).

Top 5 things that make you happy.

• Family
• Making art
• Animals
• Kindness
• And of course, Halloween!

Do you sleep with the lights on or off?

Oh, the lights need to be off for sure! I’m very sensitive to light after a recent head injury, so I try to keep the lights off as much as I can around the house in general. We joke a lot that our house is a little cave because of me.

If you could attend any award show, what would it be?

That’s a hard one since I don’t tend to watch any award shows. But I would have to say the Oscars. I love watching movies, so I think being able to be there and seeing everyone recognized for their hard work, and seeing the stars in person would be a thrill.

What restaurant serves the most delicious food in your town?

The Blue Moon Diner and Copper River Restaurant & Bar. The food is always delicious whether you get it delivered or dine in (pre-COVID). We’ve never had a bad experience with either and always leave there full and very happy. We made Copper River our go-to for birthdays and special events due to how much care and attention they give their customers. Now, if we’re back in my hometown, then Cajun Kitchen Cafe is my favorite place to go. The food is so flavorful and always top-notch.

Which actor or actress do you think deserved to win an Oscar but didn’t?

There are so many, but I am going to go with Samuel L. Jackson. I was legitimately surprised when I found out he’s never won an Oscar. He’s an amazing actor and has been part of so many iconic movies. It’s just so incredibly hard to believe!

If you were to meet an extraterrestrial, what would you ask them?

I would be all about meeting an extraterrestrial. I have seen some things myself, living next to an air force base. I am very fascinated by the topic. I would surely be trying to get some of those lifelong questions answered if they had insights into things like, where do we go when we leave this body? What is the meaning of life? Are there other lifeforms out there? Why haven’t you announced yourselves before? Have you been here already? But let’s be honest, if I’m meeting an extraterrestrial, I’m definitely going to ask if they can take me on a joyride in space! I’d love nothing more than to be out in space and see it with my own eyes.

What product would you like to win a lifetime supply of?

I wish I could win a lifetime supply of art supplies. I go through so many art supplies, from paints and brushes, gallons of resin, glitter, markers, to scrapbooking journals! I could always use more crafting supplies, and that sure would help keep my wallet a little fuller if I won a lifetime supply of refills.

How often do you check on your loved ones?

As often as I can. I try to check in every few days at least. One thing that has really helped during the pandemic is Marco Polo. My family and best friend back home use it with me. We can send videos to each other back and forth like a walkie-talkie whenever it’s convenient for us.

When was the last time you climbed over a fence?

Hahahaha! Well, I can’t say that I have ever climbed a fence. At least not one that I can remember. Climbing is not my forte for sure. I am so clumsy and can’t even climb a tree without getting stuck!

What horror movie scared you the most?

I love horror movies, but they rarely ever scare me since I have been watching them my whole life. That being said, the Stephen King movie “The Mist” scared me the most. I watched it shortly before it came out on DVD. I was home alone and of course, it was storming. When the movie got near to the end where there were gigantic monsters walking about in the Mist, I got incredibly freaked out because I had seen those same monsters in some dreams that I had when I was younger, and that did me in for the night. I had to turn all the lights on in the house and slept on the couch with the TV on cartoons all night!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how generous are you?

I would lean more towards 8 or 9. I try to be very generous and would hand over the clothes off my back if someone needed it. I always try to show those around me how much they mean to me and tend to buy little gifts for them when I spot something that made me think of them.

On the other hand, when I am financially in a comfortable spot, I’ll try and extend that blessing to others in their times of need. I know that when I was in my own dire times of need, strangers have shown up for me, as well as those close to me, so I try my best to keep that going as much as I can. We must try to be better, and do better, to help make the world more livable and caring, one little act of kindness at a time.

If life had a remote control, would you move forward or go back in time?

Back in time for sure! I loved the late 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s. I know the style is coming back around now, but nothing beats the original! The actual reason though, is that I would want more time to experience life with my family, my past pets, my old friends, and those who are no longer with us today.

Have you made a promise to someone that you haven’t broken?

The promise was to myself, many years ago, to never give up and to keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Life can be tough on us all, but life is worth living and experiencing these fleeting moments, the good and bad, is what makes us who we are.

There is so much beauty in the world, and so many amazing people out there trying to make the world just a little bit brighter. I want to make sure that I do not take the little things for granted that life has to offer, even something as small as the scent in the air when rain is approaching. Every moment truly is a precious gift.

Who do you want to be stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with?

I would have to say Dallas Seavey. For some quick background, Dallas is an American dog musher, one of only two mushers to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska five times. Dallas was also in the three seasons of a show called Ultimate Survival Alaska that I loved to watch. Dallas is amazing and could literally adapt to any situation. I would feel like I would have an incredibly strong chance of making it home from being stranded in the middle of the ocean with him!

Check out our other previous Q&As below:

Peak Support Q&A: Mari Lou Nina Pineza

Peak Support Q&A: Jim Ray Gacita

Peak Support Q&A: Maria Cecilia Acido

Peak Support Q&A: Manuel Co Jr.

Peak Support Q&A: Bianca Lazaro

Peak Support Q&A: Shirleen Telis

Peak Support Q&A: Roland Allan Papa

Peak Support Q&A: Marichel Natividad

Peak Support Q&A: Hannah Steiman

Peak Support Q&A: Carlos Cornista

Peak Support Q&A: Francis Eronico

Peak Support Q&A: Raezalaine Tayag

Peak Support Q&A: Bryan Rosario

Peak Support Q&A: Patrick Pilares

Peak Support Q&A: Honey Faith Belnas

Peak Support Q&A: Jonathan Steiman

Peak Support Q&A: Hazel Abijay

Peak Support Q&A: Kevin Calatrava

Peak Support Q&A: Leizl Joy Yee

Peak Support Q&A: Jan Merrick Lazaro

Peak Support Q&A: Kathleen Egger

Peak Support Q&A: Kaci Barker

Peak Support Q&A: George Tillotson

Peak Support Q&A: Mark Pabriaga

Peak Support Q&A: Iar Indus

Peak Support Q&A: Mimi Abelarde

Illustration by Rhea Avanceña