Amanda Barrett:  

Life My name is Amanda Yvette Barrett and I attended Patrick Henry High School from 1982-1985. In school, I was quite the tomboy. I played football with the guys and was in ROTC all through my time at PH. I was also quite studious and didn't go to the prom. That's the only thing I regret about those years. After high school, I attended James Madison University for three years, where I wasn't studious enough. After school, I worked for nine years at The Roanoke Times, starting as an Editorial Assistant in the newsroom, before moving to Sports and becoming a Copy Editor and Layout Editor. Meanwhile, my brother Linc and I cared for my mother, Rosa, who had a stroke in 1990. It was a challenge, but one I do not regret. Our family grew extremely close during that time and I got to know my mother more than I ever had before. She passed away four years ago in July, 2001 and I am so grateful to God for the years we had with her. On the work front, I became frustrated with the changing atmosphere at The Roanoke Times and headed to Orlando, Fla., to work for The Orlando Sentinel in 1997. I worked as a Sports Copy Editor and Slot Editor (reading all the copy before it heads to the presses) for a year and a half. I loved Florida but became tired of working all nights and every weekend. An "I'm 30, what have I done with my life?" crisis propelled me to move North in 1998. I also wanted to be closer to my family. I came to Newsday, a newspaper in Long Island, to work on the Features Desk as a Copy Editor. So after swearing I would never live in New York, here I was in Queens. New York was definitely exciting after Roanoke and Orlando. But I spent way too much money on plays, restaurants and clothing my first few years here. It was fun, but I was so broke! And I did miss home. Whatever people may say about Roanoke, it is friendly and...Expand for more