A VOICE OF MANY - Amanda Williams

A VOICE OF MANY

Legend Nominee: Amanda Williams

This woman’s life story represents anyone who has ever felt lost, unworthy, misunderstood, or rejected. Her strength is fueled by a desire to disprove any doubt in her ability. As a military veteran, she swore an oath as a soldier to defend and protect our great nation. She has carried that allegiance forward, still serving our country as she pursues a career as a professional truck driver. Her early hesitation of joining the trucking industry and entering a workforce predominantly male led, shared similarities to her time spent in the military. Though her courage to face such challenges had already been awakened years earlier.

A former musician, turned advocate, Amanda Williams is on a mission to spread love while raising awareness of the social injustices that strongly affect today’s society. The act of kindness is of no cost; yet, is the most valuable treasure each of us possess. It’s a gift without limit or expiration, a gesture with the potential to impact lives in a positive way.

“I try to approach everything in life with the golden rule: ‘Do until others as you would have them do unto you.’ We are all in this life together. Imagine life in a world full of kind people and the significance it could have. Surrounding yourself with a strong support group is hugely effective for a person’s confidence. Encouragement feeds the soul, and that all hinges on kindness. It starts from within, one person being kind to the next person, and so on. I have my bad moments too – then I put myself in time-out, regroup, and face whatever situation I handled wrongly. Nobody is perfect, we know that. But less hate and more love can move mountains.”

-Amanda Williams

FIRST COMES THE RAIN

Amanda and her four-legged, furry traveling companion, Capone have come a long way together over the course of their seven-year relationship. Capone is a rescue of Belgian Malinois and Collie mix, and is also dear to Amanda’s heart, as he is more than a service animal. He is her comforter on days of distress, and a reminder that each day she becomes emotionally stronger. Separated only during the weeks of training needed to earn her CDL, the two have never parted ways. At one point, Amanda was homeless living out of her car with Capone by her side. Now they run over-the-road, delivering high priority loads, enjoying each other’s company in a more relaxed fashion complete with kitchen amenities and enough wiggle room to appease her co-pilot.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Amanda says her first encounter with big rigs was at an early age and has been hooked ever since. She grew up idolizing her grandmother, who drove trucks for a living in the late 80’s. “She’s an incredible lady – a strong, southern woman. And to see her driving a truck, somewhat assured me that females could succeed in the trucking industry. So, even at that age I knew it was possible. Looking back, she is who inspired me to think big,” Amanda explains.

A teenager in school, she excelled in year-round sports, varying between basketball and softball, to name a few. Despite her busy schedule, she remained an honors student, and by age 15 began working full-time at a café in town. Senior year, she divided her work hours between a part-time position at rodeo events as a hostess, while alternating shifts as a teller at the local horse race track managing the betting windows. The fast pace of both venues suited Amanda’s energy – quick to learn and eager to feed her curiosity, she was fully engulfed in the ever-changing faces and the unexpected narrative each work day presented.

Having enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard at age 17, the day after graduating high school at 19, she immediately left for Fort Knox, Kentucky to complete her basic training. Amanda was then sent directly to Roswell, New Mexico to further her skills through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program. She finished her Army career in 2001 and relocated back to Texas. Unfortunately, a turn of events had altered her welcoming home, completely changing the course of her life, transforming the world she had left behind as a teenager into a cold, uninviting window that she could only peer in from a distance.

Prior to her return, personal details of Amanda’s private life had been released publicly without her consent. The repercussions left her ostracized, abandoned, and unaccepted by the people she had loved more than life itself: her family.

“I was raised by a faith-driven family, very religious, very loving. However, after I had been outed and returned home from service, I did not have their support. The hurt it caused made me dislike myself. Speaking from my own experience, being shut out and pushed away can send you to a very dark place. The emotions that you’re left to deal make you feel disposable, in a way. Unworthy. Isolated.

I miss my family, that pain will never go away. What I have learned is that real, genuine love is unconditional and even though I didn’t know it then, I do now – there are people in this world that will accept you; that will love you without judgement; that truly want you to be happy. And when you find those unique people, keep them in your corner. Surround yourself with them, because when self-doubt decides to try and poke its ugly head you have the strength to fight it off.

When I lost everything, my best friend, Paige and my god-daughter, Sky, along with their family were there for me. I’m very thankful for them! They helped me through a very difficult time in my life. I will be forever thankful, more than they will ever know. Again, kindness and love has the power to change anything.”

TOUGH ROAD, THICK SKIN

With nothing but a truck to her name, she and Capone resided within the confined vehicle for six months, as she saved enough money to afford an apartment to call home. It was Amanda’s childhood upbringing that she leaned on to help land her a job as a mechanic. Growing up, her father and grandfather did most of their own repair work on the farm equipment. Following as their shadow, she learned a great deal along the way. Many years later, a friend who was also a mechanic, took Amanda under his wing, advancing her knowledge of the trade. She combined those years of experience and applied it toward her new beginning working for a car dealership for several years.

Once settled in, Amanda headed back to school studying computer programming at a community college. In 2005, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business communication from Texas State University. She was hired on as a sales representative at Dell Computers, later securing a position working for the government and local police force as a subject matter expert (SME). She specialized in equipping departments with the most up-to-date technology and software development. Amanda had found her niche. Working at Dell, she was on the forefront of the latest discoveries, and back in a familiar setting among military and law enforcement.

Six years later, Amanda teamed up with the owner of an E-cigarette company and worked her way up to lab manager. The following three years, she assisted in creating and developing recipes while expanding their business. After her next management role, she made her transition into the world of transportation. In the Army, she gained experience operating Humvees; before that, hauling livestock. This time she was in straight trucks, delivering loads for UPS.

Again, life took a turn in the wrong direction. Amanda was going through a divorce, meanwhile at work there was not enough freight volume, resulting in layoffs. She found herself back at square one with no home. For months, Capone, Amanda and Paige lived out of her car. She soon landed another delivery job hauling car parts and chemicals during the day, at night they slept in a four-door sedan. The weekends were spent across town at Paige’s parents’ catching up on laundry and preparing for the upcoming week. By Monday, Amanda was back at work. In need of more income, Amanda began researching job availabilities and noticed a high-demand for over-the-road truck drivers. She considered the trucking lifestyle and decided to reach out.

LIVING FREELY

In September 2018, Amanda was connected with Star Hall, a driver recruiter at Celadon. Star made sure Amanda arrived safely for orientation from Texas up to Indiana. The two women instantly hit it off and all of Amanda’s walls that had grown taller with each boulder life had thrown her way, had fallen wayside. Star is a seasoned truck driver with 23 years of experience, and well over 2-million safe miles to boot. Amanda was quick to recognize the respected path laid before her by such a pioneer in the industry. With 10 years of driver training under her belt, Star stepped out from behind the recruiting desk and they hit the road together.

Now days, it’s a lot more common to see female truck drivers, versus when Amanda was a kid, looking up to her grandmother. “Meeting Star,” Amanda explains, “and then having her as a trainer absolutely changed my life.” Of course, driving a truck professionally comes with its challenges, what job doesn’t. But Amanda understands that everything in life comes with a learning process. Most every field that Amanda has pursued for a career has been male-dominated. She adds, “Trucking is the same… as a woman, I have to work twice as hard to get half as far, but I’m up for the challenge.”

Amanda and Star drove team while training, and again afterwards on into the winter holidays. Which Amanda appreciated, any additional time to learn from her mentor, the better. In January, she began running solo over-the-road, still pulling dry van. Her goal is to remain a company driver, gain more time behind the wheel, and (hopefully down the road) make the leap to owner operator. For now, she only wants to focus on work, traveling the country safely, and provide a forever-home for herself, Paige and Sky – where they can all live together again.

Driving a truck is a good position to be in as a veteran, Amanda says. There is something about a long stretch of road that serves a therapeutic purpose. She often enjoys listening to preaching while she drives, or silence; sitting content in peace with Capone, riding on an open road.

“I finally feel like I belong. Everything that has happened to me, has led me to this. I wish I would’ve found my way here sooner, but it makes me appreciate everything more. The one thing I wish I could go back in time and tell my 19-year old self would be, to stop looking for acceptance from everywhere else. That brought a lot of heartache, searching for acceptance and love from other people. If I had found what I was looking for – what I thought I needed – within myself, I may be a little further along than I am now. All I know is that you live and learn. Life is too short to be unhappy.”

Everyone has the right to live freely, as they should. After all, Amanda served in the Army so our nation can have that privilege. Remember, though – kindness is free. You don’t have to endure weeks of boot camp to understand that. So, let’s spread it around like our generations to follow depend on it (because honestly, it does!).