Let's spend a little time getting to know Amanda, someone who has served as a mentor to KAP students and given a lot of time to the program. Her enthusiasm and energy for the program speak for themselves, and so to does her understanding of and advocacy for students on the autism spectrum. As another mentor in the program offered, Amanda "...is awesome...she's one of the best".
Q: What would you like to share with us about you?
Amanda: I was born in Fort Worth, Texas, though I only lived there a year. Thanks to my Dad's job in the Navy, my family was blessed with the opportunity to live in 18 states. I have also been to 30 countries and lived in eight of them.
By the time I was three I began horseback riding and skiing, competing in hunter-jumper and cross country (respectively). At six my brother and I were on the local swim team and I was playing piano. I was always terrible at school and at learning in a classroom setting. My family is so supportive - they did whatever it took to get the hands-on education that allowed me to thrive...museums, libraries, tutors, inventing new games, etc.. Because of their love I was ultimately granted the opportunity to graduate high school early with honors.
Q: How did you first learn about KAP and what led to your involvement with KAP (and in what ways)?
Amanda: I first learned about KAP after falling in love with a five year-old little boy in Ireland who, like myself, loves to swim, be outside, build forts in the living room before a movie night, and play with his dog. He also happens to be autistic.
I knew from the moment I left him that my life had been changed and I would have to do whatever it took to get involved with the world of autism in America. After a pow-wow with a sorority sister she told me about "some program for autistic kids" at WKU! I eMailed the address I found on the KAP web site for Dr. Boman. I asked her if I could volunteer through them. She told me that we could schedule an interview. Not having any real experience working with autism, I agreed while thinking "this is gonna be painfully tragic". An hour later I was asked to come back the next day to fill-out paperwork. When I returned I was not only given my class assignment for Prime-Time (the after-school program for kiddos 7-18) but also my first two mentees!
Presently I am helping to plan the Walk/Run for Autism including a silent auction and pasta dinner.
Q: In what ways have you seen WKU and the Bowling Green community support KAP?
Amanda: WKU and the Bowling Green community are great supporters of KAP. The local baseball team (the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) helps host a run/walk each year. The WKU football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and girls soccer teams each host a KAP day during the spring and are constantly visiting to hang out with our kids.
Q: What are some the biggest challenges being a KAP mentor? And what are some of the biggest rewards?
Amanda: One of the biggest challenges being a KAP mentor is cleaning and organizing rooms on move-out weeks. The biggest rewards are the same as all other good friendships: discovery, self-growth, and great memories. Mentoring isn't about guiding someone or helping someone for a school year. That's how it starts out, sure, but if you're willing to let it, the person you're mentoring becomes a true friend. As a paid mentor, you're supported to meet with your person at least once a week to grab food and catch-up. You're also supposed to help them keep their room at a manageable level of cleanliness and organization. It becomes much more than that...it's a friendship. You begin to look forward to that dreaded math class just for the lunch after with the friend you met at KAP. You're excited to get together on Tuesdays to watch PLL and Dance Moms. Thursday nights at the book store aren't just a time to find a good read but also to catch-up with a sweet friend. Even though the next year you may be asked to mentor someone different, you still go to lunch with the ones from previous years because you want to, not because you are asked to. For some of us we often forget to turn-in our time-sheets for lunch-dates and outings because it becomes more than work. It is only work if you would rather be doing something else. I wouldn't.
Q: What do you want to do with your WKU education and how will your experience as part of KAP support that?
Amanda: With my WKU education, I hope to get my masters degree in Social Work and become a Play Therapist or Positive Psychologist. My experience at KAP has allowed for a more well-rounded education and hands-on experience.
Q: What are some of your favorite things?
Amanda:
Music - Frank Sinatra, Bing, Fred, Judy, Jack Johnson, Carrie Underwood
Places - any place I can make a new friend
Movies - Notting Hill, Patriot Games, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Holiday Inn
Foods - coffee, fruits and veggies (I don't like sweets other than ice cream)
Sports - football (New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, WKU) and baseball (BG Hot Rods, Chicago Cubs)
Books - I couldn't choose...I love a good book!
Q: What are you working to learn or improve or accomplish...in any facet of your life?
Amanda: In my life I am working to be more patient towards annoying people. I hope to one day have my own practice in Play Therapy and American Sign Language, be a wife and mother, open a coffee house (Java Da Hut), and to be a professional philanthropist. I hope to do at least one thing every day that scares me, and write a book or two. But above all else I hope to be happy and do good.
