Amanda was always an avid writer. English class was her favorite subject growing up, so she enjoyed writing songs with lyrics that developed in her head, writing stories about her day, and learning about reading and writing in general. The little blonde-haired, blue-eyed, outgoing girl persevered through many hardships, and writing was her only outlet. When she had no one to turn to, writing was her safe place, the place she could think clearly and truthfully without being judged. Writing became more than just a passion for Amanda; it was her survival tool, but over time, as life changed, so did her relationship with writing