Amanda Powell

Hello. My name is Amanda Leigh Powell. I am going on my third year at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. My major is Journalism, which is concentrated on advertising. My minor is History. Before SIUC, I came from a town of 1,300 people called Barry, Illinois. In high school I was very active. I played the flute in the marching band, sung in the choir, and wrote for the school newspaper. I was also involved in sports. I ran track, played volleyball, and softball. After my sophomore year I had to get a job. All of my activities I was involved with dwindled down. I stayed in band, but did not get involved in marching band. Also, I kept writing for the school newspaper. I wanted to keep staying active with the school programs, but I had to have a job.

My mom is a single mom. She worked at a bank in my hometown making minimum wage. My dad did not help with finances for my sister and I. I had to have a job to have a car because of work and school. When I graduated, I knew I wanted to make something of myself. I had seen my mom and family struggle to make it by doing jobs they disliked. It was very hard.

Now that I am at SIUC, I want to give it my all. I love to write. I don't think of it as a job, because it is fun! I plan to join an RSO on campus this year, too. I am starting to get involved with my major right now by being a Peer Adviser for new students. My goal is to do as much as possible to learn and succeed.