By: John Winright
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Amanda was born and raised on the outskirts of Fayette, Ohio. She is the daughter of Paul and Cheryl Bird and has two sisters, Jessica and Melissa, and a brother Christopher.
She graduated from Fayette High School in 2006, Northwest State in 2008 and Defiance College in 2011 receiving degrees in Business Administration and Communication Arts.
Amanda works for Wauseon Machine as an Inside Sales Assistant and reports to three different managers. The company specializes in build to print tooling, standard and custom equipment, automation and production, including robotics.
Amanda says, “I enjoy every day because there’s always something different and there is so much to learn. Its fun dealing with all the different customers from around the world and learning what the end use is for the items we sell. I enjoy all of the people I work with as they make the job fun which makes it easier to get through each day.”
She also is involved with the Relay for Life, the Fulton County American Cancer Society and the Volunteer Leadership Council which meets quarterly.
When asked about hobbies Amanda says she just wants to spend her time helping others. “My interest in helping others is why I have so much community involvement. I like to help with things that can make an impact on others, and make me feel like I’m doing my part in life. I don’t like to go out and do things to get recognition. I’d rather spend my time making things easier and better for others. Growing up with an autistic brother has shown me that some things in life are truly a blessing in disguise. People think those with disabilities are a burden, and don’t want to deal with them. Being in that situation taught me so many things. It taught me to appreciate every day and every opportunity that I face. It taught me patience as I realized things aren’t simple and easy for everyone. Some people need more time than others to comprehend something, or may not understand things fully at first. We all face our struggles throughout the day, some have more than others, but that’s what makes each person who they are. Some people have apologized to me about the whole situation, but there is no apology needed. He’s another person in this world that I’ve been blessed to have in my life and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Some people aren’t as fortunate to have had the experiences that I have had, and I use them to help me remain positive and keep pushing forward. I’ve also used others experiences I’ve read about to help make important choices in my life. After reading about a young woman who was waiting for an organ transplant for an extended period of time, and was finally able to receive that transplant, only to have her life taken away a short time later in a car accident, really pushed me to become an organ donor. Even though I never knew her, her story was one that touched me and made me realize that bad things happen to good people.
Someday I may be able to save someone else’s life, and that’s something I really want to dedicate my time to whether it be organ donation, helping with fundraising for cancer research, or anything in between.”
“As far as hobbies go I also, in my spare time, like hanging out with my friends, my dog Nala, and spending time with my family.”
When asked who she looks up to Amanda does not hesitate to state “My parents! I look up to them because they taught me to work hard for what I want, and have pushed me to try to attain my goals. They’ve supported me every step of the way. Also, my sisters as they’ve also showed me that hard work pays off. We’ve gotten closer as we have gotten older and they have always been there to lend an ear and offer words of encouragement when needed. And my best friend John, as he’s encouraged me to do better than my best and has never let me settle for less. Whenever I need something, he’s always there, and he’s most of the reason why I got so heavily involved in volunteering and Relay for Life”.
When asked about her involvement in Relay for Life, she says, “I started my involvement in Relay for Life because my friends invited me out to see what it was all about. From there, I was hooked. I’ve since moved up into a committee position of public relations and now as event chairperson. I also am a co-captain for the Wauseon Machine & Manufacturing Relay for Life team. Throughout my involvement over the past 9 years, cancer has affected me more and more. A little over a year ago, I lost one of my aunts to cancer, and that fueled my desire even more to continue raising money to find a cure to put an end to this disease. I enjoy working with the Relay community because you get to hear everyone’s stories and see the obstacles that survivors and their families have overcome and realize how much your time and effort has an impact on them. The true superheroes aren’t the comic book characters – true superheroes are those who face adversity every day and remain positive and continue fighting.”
“Every event is different, every person that attends has a different circumstance that has brought them there, but we’re all striving for the same goal which is to finish the fight and put an end to cancer.
“Our next event is going to be held June 5th (starting at 6 PM) and June 6th (ending at noon), 2015 – Fulton County Fairgrounds. This year’s theme is superheroes, our fundraising goal is $127,000. The event is full of fun activities for everyone and the main goal of the event is to raise money to fund cancer research.” More information can be found at http://relayforlife.org/fultoncounty, or more history of Relay can be found at http://relayforlife.org.
I asked Amanda what she has to share as far as what she has learned in life and got the following response, “Something I have learned in life is that every day is truly a gift. Different things happen throughout the course of any given day, and while some are more difficult to handle than others, remaining positive is the only way to be truly happy. Don’t waste your time being upset about things that are out of your control. Just make the most of it. Everyone has their struggles, but that’s what makes a person who they are and is part of their overall development and character.”
What an amazing young lady to meet and to talk to. The Fulton County area is very fortunate to have Amanda Bird as a part of their community.
John may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
