Interviewed by Derek Swartzlander
15 Minutes with Amanda Speicher

Icon: You graduated from Bluffton in 2019. What have you been doing since then?
I am a sophomore at Indiana Wesleyan University studying music education. I am involved in orchestra and chamber music, and am preparing to audition for colorguard when our marching band starts next fall. I am on the board for our school’s chapter of NAfME (National Association for Music Educators). I also recently started working as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor at the pool on campus.

What kind of music do you like to listen to? Why do you like that music?
I like all different kinds of music. Right now I usually listen to a Spotify playlist called “Have a Great Day!” because I like listening to music that puts me in a good mood.

What are your favorite family traditions?
Every Christmas Eve, we open one present and it’s always pajamas. One year my parents found out that we knew it was going to be pajamas and asked if my siblings and I wanted to switch it up but we told them we liked the tradition. I also enjoy taking family vacations in the summer.

Do you have any hobbies?
In high school my main hobby was being involved in music, but now that isn’t really a hobby since it’s my major. I don’t really have a specific hobby right now; when I have free time I mostly hang out with my friends and get coffee.

What is your favorite day of the week?
I like Saturdays because I can sleep in, but other than that I like Mondays this semester because I only have two classes before lunch and then the rest of my day is free to hang out with friends or try to be productive.

What is a strong opinion you have on something silly?
I know a lot of people complain about Hallmark movies all having the same basic storyline, but I personally enjoy that they can take the same concept and make it into a unique story each time. I love Hallmark movies because of the consistency and because they are stress-free to watch.

Are you a night owl or an early riser? Do you like whichever one you are?
I’m definitely more of a night owl, which is fun because most of my friends also are. I wish I could be more of an early riser though because it would be nice to be able to get everything done earlier in the day.

If you could change your senior quote, what would you change it to and why?
The other day Alyssa (my sister) said, “words cannot express how much I need iced coffee right now.” I think I’d choose that if I could change my senior quote because I love iced coffee, and I drink it pretty frequently.

Which Bluffton teachers inspired you?
A lot of them did, but one who inspired me a lot was Mrs. Knowlton. I always enjoyed her classes because of her energy and enthusiasm for teaching. Even if we were reading a book that I probably wouldn’t have chosen to read, she made reading it in class fun. Even though I am going to teach music instead of English, I still feel like I learned many valuable things from her that I can use in my future classrooms.

Do you have any advice for high schoolers today?
Don’t be afraid to try new things! Lots of people will tell you to make sure you don’t commit to too many activities because it may become too much, which is true, but also don’t let that stop you from trying something you think you’ll enjoy.