Meet Amy S.
Irene and I were emailing back and forth yesterday, and I was having a deep thought. "All one needs to be fascinating, is someone other than oneself." (OOOoooOOOh!) That's true, though. You may not find yourself particularly interesting, but I'll bet you dollars to donuts, someone else will.
Amy S. is someone I find fascinating.
I'll admit something here: Aside from a stint with a roommate, I have never lived completely on my own devices. When I lived alone in college, my father was supporting me. When I shared a flat with Karen, we were halving the bills. I have never in my life been solely responsible for my own homestead. I find the thought both amazing and terrifying.
Amy S. is one of those sisters doing it for themselves. If Aretha will sing an ode to you, you're doing something right!
The elephant in the room with any woman over a certain age is Where Is The Man? Like a woman can't possibly be anything without one, or must be desperate to have one, or...something. I love women who rise above the stereotype, who debunk the mythology, and who ride that elephant right into town as "fiercely independent" and content, and who make their own spaces in male dominated fields. So come meet this fascinating woman, who is an Environmental Scientist. A scientist! How do you get more interesting than that?!
Meet Amy S.:
First Name: Amy S.
Age Range:30s
Job Title: Senior Environmental Scientist
Industry: Government/Environmental
Who are you? I am not sure who I am. I’ve had a somewhat bumpy road to this point in my life, as a sexual abuse survivor, and losing the most important person in my world at a formidable age, and am still trying to figure out who I am as a result. I’m definitely still on the path, but like the person I’m becoming.
For what it’s worth, I’m a fiercely independent single professional homeowner living approximately 75 miles from her closest family member. I left home for college at 18 and with the exception of a couple summers and a 2 month stint after graduation, never went back. I subscribe to no religion, and tend toward liberal democratic views. I have strong opinions, and refuse to hide my intelligence and hope I don’t come off as “know-it-all” or close minded because of it.
Describe Your Family: My “family” consists of my sisters, a few select friends, and my goofball cat, as I have a seriously strained relationship with my mother, and lost my father 13 years ago. I don’t make friends easily, but when I do, they stick. I met my best friend at age 3, and have an international family in my “pen-pal”, whom I started writing to at age 10/11 and have been blessed to see face to face many times over the years. I’m still learning to trust and to love well and deeply… my family is still growing as a result.
What does the first hour of your day look like? Chaos. I sleep till the last possible second, enjoying the comfort of my bed and purring of the cat. This often leaves me throwing my hair in a ponytail as I rush out the door, no lunch or coffee in had, cursing the way I look once I arrive at work and the fact that I once again have to purchase things easily made at home.
What does the last hour of your day look like? Reading. I’m a voracious reader and almost always have more than one book going. I curl up in bed and read every night, with the cat nosing into my way for attention.
What makes you feel successful? My job - I’m not one for high self esteem, but I know my job, and I know I do it well. My home - I bought it all on my own at age 28, and have maintained and made improvements to it, most of them on a “do-it-yourself” basis. Moments when I’m needed and/or trusted by a friend or family member, for then I know that I’m doing something right.
What brings you joy? My garden - I love to sit on the patio I installed myself and gaze at my little kingdom, knowing that nearly every flower, shrub, herb and veggie has been placed by me; sharing the bounty of my garden with friends.
Children’s laughter - I’m constantly amazed by their innocence and forthright-ness, and try to encourage it in ways I wasn’t.
Being reminded in small ways, that even if I may not always think or believe so, I am important to, and loved by, many people.
What were you like in first, sixth, and twelfth grades?
1st- Chatterbox. Very intelligent. Full of energy & precociousness.
6th- Awkward, insecure, frightened and intimidated socially, hiding in schoolwork.
12th- Anxious to get the hell out of dodge. Knew quite well I didn’t “fit” where I was and wanting to find where I did. I had no idea that in 6 short months the world as I knew it would cease to exist as the center of my universe, my father, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, never to recover.
What advice would you give yourself at each of those ages?
1st- I wouldn’t advise so much as support and love and encourage in ways I didn’t always get.
6th- Everything from 1st grade with the addition of advising the 6th grade me that it isn’t her fault, and that she is beautiful and worthy and wonderful, and deserving of every happiness life can afford, and then some. I would offer all the feminine advice that a changing/developing young girl needs and most definitely didn’t get.
12th- 1st and 6th grades, plus all the womanly advice an 18 year old needs regarding dating/sex/relationships etc that was so woefully lacking, and assurances that 12th grade me is ready and able to handle independence, and doesn’t “need” anything from anyone to be able to do that.
Who do you admire?
Jane Goodall. She has always been 100% genuine and true to herself and was so wonderfully lucky to have a family that supported and encouraged her to go down the path she chose. She broke so many gender rules as she set out on her path, and never once doubted herself because she had such a strong foundation as a person. I wish I had that foundation, and the grace and gentle confidence she has. I was thrilled to see her speak in college and meet her afterward. She actually is as amazing as I thought.
How would you like to be remembered? Hopefully in a positive way! As a good and loyal friend, who was kind and giving. Someone who suffered things that shouldn’t be suffered, but grew and overcame in positive healthy ways. Someone who was always learning and growing. Someone who smiled a lot and never hesitated to laugh.
Comments
She's all that and more. A wonderful friend and a wonderful person.
Posted by: Tiffany | February 19, 2009 01:57 PM