January 11th - Amanda

Over the last year, I've been a part of a team that facilitates interviews for the Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, and Pharmacy programs here at High Point University.  Those programs are why I moved over to the Graduate School, and I've really enjoyed the shift in roles and responsibilities.

A big reason for this is that it has allowed me to come into contact with different areas of campus that I was otherwise unaware.  For seven years, I was with the Undergraduate Admissions office, and that meant that I typically saw the same people over and over again.  Moving to a new side of campus has introduced me to new people.  Some of them I've become very close with, and others I only see in passing.  Yesterday's interviewee falls in the second category.

Amanda

Amanda works with Campus Events team here at HPU.  She's been here for 10 months and has enjoyed her time here so far.  I come into contact with her because she often works the welcome desk at the Webb Conference Center, which is where many of our interview days begin and end.  

Before coming to HPU, Amanda attended Greensboro College where she studied Studio Art.  I asked if she continued with her artwork.

"I wish that I did, but I don't as much any more.  To be honest, baking has become my creative outlet."

Amanda had always loved to bake, and in fact, upon graduating from college she moved back to southern Maryland (which is where she's from), and worked at a small bakery there.

"They were known for their baked cinnamon buns," she said, "and a lot of breakfast stuff.  It was kind of my 'fun job' before reality hit.  When I got to HPU, stuff got real!"

She still likes to bake (cookies are her favorite to make), and we talked about my own love of cooking and how I've just now started to try my hand at baking.  I told her that I was in the same boat with cooking, that it had become a creative outlet for me as well (one that you can actually eat!)

"There's so many recipes," she said, "you just have to experiment and mess with them to see what works best!"

What's your favorite joke?

Amanda: I don't really have one...wait, yes I do.  This is one I tell to my nieces (Amanda has an older brother with two kids).  

What's a snake's favorite candy?

A snnnnnnnnnnnnnickers...

What's the meal that reminds you most of home?

Amanda: My mom's crab cakes.  She doesn't use any filler, so it's all crab meat.  It's the same with her crab dip too.  We ate a ton of if over Christmas break, it's so good.  I can't eat anything crab around here because it tastes fake.  I'm not like a snob about it...ok, yes, I am haha...

Lars: I'm the same way about lobster, it's just weird not getting it fresh.

Amanda: I actually have a kinda funny story about lobster.  My family went out to this really fancy restaurant and my cousin ordered lobster, like the most expensive thing on the menu.  She takes one bite and says "Is it supposed to be this squishy?" and then doesn't eat another bite.  My dad was so mad!

Will the world be better or worse in 20 years?

Amanda: That's a big question.  I'll be positive and say yes, and I'll leave it at that haha. Change happens so fast that you don't realize it and then you take it for granted that it's happened.

What was the most significant thing that happened this year?

Amanda: I got engaged!  This was a big year of change for me.  I moved back to North Carolina because we had been doing the distance thing, and I finally said if I got a good job I'd move, and I found this job so I came down.

My fiance asked me on the day of HPU graduation, which means that I was at work super early and running around all morning.  We went hiking right after that (people thought I was crazy for hiking after to work but that's what we like to do!).  And he asked me on a trail at Hanging Rock.

My dad tells this super dorky joke now, "Jacob hung a rock at Hanging Rock..."

Dad jokes are strong with her father...

We talk about her upcoming marriage (the wedding is November), and she said that she was just ready to be married.  To which, I offered her the best piece of advice Elizabeth and I got before our wedding.

Lars: You're going to get a lot of advice, and I'm sorry to add my two cents.  But the best thing someone told me before we got married was this: Take 5 seconds with your new spouse, and look out over the crowd.

It's kinda like when you're dreaming.  Your high school friend is for some reason talking to your grandmother who is now dancing with your college buddy who's now talking with your spouse's uncle.  When you dream, your brain pulls random memories out and fills your dream with a cast of characters from all over your life.

And that's what your wedding will look like.  A group of people that you never thought would get together, and they're all there because they love you and your husband. You will never see this group of people together again, so take 5 seconds, hold his hand, and just look out over the crowd and take it all in.

I think she appreciated the advice ("I have never heard it put that way!") and I most certainly appreciated the chance to talk with her.  Amanda is always a friendly and welcoming presence, truly exemplifying what we try to do here at HPU.  I look forward to more interview days in the future so I can try to get some of those recipes from her.  Amanda, if you're reading this, I'd love some cookies for the next interview day!