About Me

Photo by Marie Duecker

Hey guys! My name is Amanda and one of my biggest passions in life is traveling. Long before I started playing professional volleyball in Europe, I was traveling with my awesome family, living what have become the most meaningful experiences of my life. In 2014, months after I graduated from Ohio State, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Long story short, I almost died, had a few surgeries, and now have a J-pouch. As a result of the time I spent in the hospital and recovering, I had the chance to do a ton of thinking about life and what’s important to me. Because I believe that life is what you make it, I decided that I want to do something positive with that experience, in an open, honest, and welcoming setting.

My main goals with this blog are to share my journey and what I have learned through this “battle”, to encourage others to step outside of their comfort zone and keep adventuring despite challenges and setbacks, and to inspire those who wish to design their own unique life story.

Traveling, exploring, and investing time with my family and friends lead me to not fear dying and provided a sense of peace and fulfillment as I faced the potential end of my life.

Check out my post “About My Journey And Why I Am Writing This Blog” to read more about why I’m here!