Amanda Newcomb's Story

Amanda Newcomb, age 19, Lebanon, NH

Says Amanda, "PKU is part of who I am, affects how I live, and is a circumstance that I have embraced. My parents taught me to believe that my PKU made me no different from anyone else, only special, so since my childhood I have maintained the perspective that my metabolic disorder is nothing of which to be ashamed. In fact, having a unique struggle of my own has created empathy in me for others who experience similar or much greater difficulties in life." Amanda maintains outstanding phe levels despite her very classical PKU.

Now a junior at a liberal arts school, Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, Amanda is pursuing a double major in Social Work and Spanish. She has a long history of academic excellence. A straight-A student taking Honors and Advanced Placement classes throughout high school, she graduated in the top 3% of her class and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also received a Smith College Book Award. She was a member of a select chorus, the Superlatives, as well as a member of the drama club, acting in plays and musicals. She started martial arts training as a child and continued through high school, becoming an instructor for children. She spent many hours volunteering her time in various service activities. In college, she is a member of the national honor society (Sigma Delta Pi) for students studying the Spanish language and is Vice President of the Social Work Club. She and several of her friends have volunteered at a Salvation Army Homeless Shelter and she is currently doing an internship though a social work class at the city’s Rape Crisis Center. She has travelled extensively, including mission trips to Mexico, Honduras, Uruguay, and Uganda where she participated in numerous community service projects, working and raising money to cover her expenses.

Amanda has always had an interest in helping others who are oppressed or disadvantaged for her career and plans to work towards a Master’s Degree, most likely in the field of international social work. Her particular interest is to work toward fighting modern human slavery and sex trafficking which she became aware of during her freshman year of college.

Says one of her professors, "Amanda combines clear intelligence and hard work in all that she does. She is thorough in her preparation, open-minded in her thinking, and passionate about serving others. She has a good inner sense of balance that enables her to relate well to others. Her writing skills are excellent and she consistently demonstrates an ability to think coherently and analytically. She is one of our truly outstanding students, having a wonderful combination of strong interpersonal skills, maturity, and passion for learning. Her character and integrity are notable for a person of her age. She is a joy to have in our program."