In life, the unexpected twists along our journey can lead to surprisingly fulfilling destinations we may have never have envisioned. Though she had aspirations for a career in healthcare during college, Amanda Lower’s path led her to a passion for working with children.
A La Porte native, Lower began her academic career at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis aiming to become an ultrasound technician. However, her life moved in a different direction after getting married and relocating to California, as her husband was in the United States Marine Corps. She completed her final two years of school at California State University San Marcos, earning a degree in healthcare management.
Following her husband’s retirement from the Marines, Lower’s family returned to Northern Indiana. At that time, she was a stay-at-home mom to their four children. As her kids grew older though, she came across a new venture.
When she noticed an opening with the Slicer Champions Mentor Program at La Porte Community School Corporation, Lower knew she had to apply.
“When my husband was in the Marine Corps, I was a part of the Family Readiness System where I got to work with families and kids, especially during deployment times,” said Lower. “I've always really enjoyed working with youth, so I decided to take the position.”
Starting as a part-time site coordinator and now serving as the full-time program coordinator, Lower enjoys fostering long-term relationships with all of the students. In particular, she has a special passion for those who are often misunderstood.
“My absolute favorite part of this job is getting to build relationships with so many of these kids, especially those who are sometimes labeled as ‘problem kids.’ I love getting to know and understand them better,” said Lower. “The wonderful part is that I have the opportunity to support them until they graduate high school. I've been truly blessed to connect with so many of these children.”
Currently, there are almost 200 students in fifth through 12th grade who are part of the mentor program. Lower and her team work with them through graduation and beyond.
“Once they're part of our program, they remain part of our program. They always know they have us to support them,” Lower said.
Along with working with the students, Lower also recruits new mentors, organizes special workshops for the program, and plans volunteer outings. These volunteer opportunities are especially important in giving students a sense of responsibility and compassion.
“We volunteer in the local community to encourage the kids to give back,” Lower said. “We are all part of this community, and it's important to show our children that this is their home and they should take pride in it.”
Lower draws inspiration from the strength of her family, especially from her husband and children.
“As a military family, my husband has been deployed five times,” said Lower. “Seeing the resilience he and my kids have shown has inspired me to keep moving forward. My great relationship with my own children has encouraged me to do the work that I do.”
Outside of work, Lower enjoys gardening, doing yard work, reading, traveling, and learning new things. She is even currently taking classes online through Ball State University to earn her bachelor’s for social work and plans to continue on to earn her master's degree after that.
For those interested, Lower welcomes potential mentors to reach out and join this meaningful program.
“We are constantly looking for more mentors; it’s something we’ll always have a need for,” Lower said. “It's not just the students who gain something from this program. Mentors often find it life-changing and rewarding to help the students.”