Mentor Spotlight: Amanda Widmeyer
Amanda Widmeyer knows firsthand what it’s like to be a non-traditional student. Her path to her current career was not easy but her connection to the rich educational legacy of the Ursuline Sisters of Brown County made it possible.
Growing up, Amanda did not find support from her family when she wanted to pursue some of her career aspirations. Being a police officer or a Marine wasn’t considered to be a role for a woman, and she was told that cosmetology wouldn’t enable her to earn a living wage. As a high school senior, she attended classes at Southern Hills Vocational School in the morning and worked as a crew member at McDonald’s in the afternoon. After high school, she moved away from her family and spent years doing odd jobs.
Nearly two decades later, Amanda received a notice from Social Security that outlined possible careers and salaries. It was a turning point for her, and she turned to the former Chatfield College and the Ursuline Sisters for support.
While pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts, she was connected to a Federal Work Study job at Hope Emergency, an organization initiated and supported by the Ursulines. What started with Sister Sandy seeing potential in Amanda, led to an initial job as a Clothing Building Supervisor and eventually to the job she currently holds as the Building Coordinator and Marketing and Social Services Coordinator for Hope Emergency. She believes this is the career she was meant to have.
As she looks back on her life, Amanda wishes someone would have shared this advice with her when she was in high school: “Go for what makes you happy and don’t just pick a field to appease others. It’s important to think about your future and choose something that you’re invested in 100% so you will stick to it.” Had she heard this, she believes she would have chosen her career a whole lot sooner and been happier.
Amanda noted that her education has helped her in her career, including the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts she earned with concentrations in psychology, sociology, and social work. The non-traditional route she took to obtain her education and her desire to help others are things she is passionate about bringing to her role as a mentor with The Chatfield Edge.
“There are a lot of barriers and obstacles people need to overcome when they come back to school, especially parents,” she said.
By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage others to step up as mentors to help shape and support the next generation of people who will impact our society.
“Do it because you have wisdom to share. We all have our specialties – knowing about life, school, how to pay a bill, write an essay, take care of kids – different things we’ve learned about life that we can share with others. And what you give is just as important as what you receive.”
The Chatfield Edge is growing and needs more mentors with experience from all walks of life to accompany its first-generation and non-traditional students who are enrolled in college, trade school, and certificate programs. Training is provided for mentors who meet with students about four times each semester to encourage them along their path to gain success in life through education. To find out more or to sign up to be a mentor, contact David Hesson, Director of Programs, at david.hesson@chatfieldedge.org or call 513-875-3344 x 115.
