Hale - In It For Storms

I met a very special girl once. She was a kind, selfless, happy person. You found yourself unable to be angry or frustrated when she was around, because she seemed to carry an abundance of joy with her wherever she went. Her name was Amanda Hale. I met Amanda during my freshman year of college. She was in some of my music classes, and she was the pianist that would accompany my teacher during my voice lessons. I was always incredibly nervous about my abilities during lessons or performing, but Amanda was always there with an encouraging word to help ease me. We talked often about our plans after college. My plans were always grayish, wanting to perform music, but maybe teaching if things didn't work out, or maybe learning recording. She was entirely the opposite, knowing exactly what she wanted with her life. She was excited to go back to her hometown to teach music. Amanda was a person who would give and give and, after that, wanted to keep giving. She definitely made an impact on me that I won't soon forget. Here are some words from some of Amanda's friends,

"Mr. Holland's Opus was Amanda's favorite movie, and it was obvious why—it was the embodiment of her vision of her future self. The teacher in the movie does something amazing for his students in translating his passion for music to them, and since Amanda's death I cannot bring myself to watch the movie again.

The very last thing I remember about Amanda is taking her picture as she rushed off to a babysitting job. A group of friends was gathered in our dorm room the fall of our sophomore year, and I was trying to get everyone together for a picture that was to be part of my philosophy class' Philosophy of Life project. I needed to take pictures of people and things important to me, so I called Amanda back in to snap a quick picture.

That was the last time I saw her alive.

Late that night/early the next morning we found out that Amanda had been rushed to a hospital in Ann Arbor after being hit by a drunk driver who swerved over the line into her lane just down the street from our college."

"Even though I only knew her for a little more than year before she died, I still think about her often. I wonder what she would be doing now and If I would be heading up to Canada to visit her on vacations. It's amazing how relationships are sealed during that first year of college so that you never forget your friends. Amanda was such an understanding person. She was one of the first people I ever met my own age who really understood and embraced grief. That was one of the things that was so hard when she died - I wanted to talk to her about it because I knew she would understand. She had a way of listening to what you had to say that assured you that she really understood what you were saying and feeling.

One of the most fun memories I had with her, and one I still tell others about, is the day we all smuggled water guns into our 7:50 a.m. music class to spray our professor with. We were just waiting for him to spray us with his water bottle first, and Amanda kept trying to provoke him to give us an excuse to spray him back. Amanda and I had so many fun times together in the music program at SAC, and I cherish those memories.

I also remember visiting her house for spring break of my freshmen year and spending hours talking and getting to know each other better. When I met Amanda, I felt like I had found a whole-life friend, and it was so hard to say goodbye. The outpouring of love that came from other classmates at school and friends from home made it clear that I was not the only one who felt that way about her.

I also loved the way she always signed her cards and letters, "Smiles, Amanda." I still have so many little notes of encouragement that she sent to me in the mail or left in my room."

"She would write encouraging notes to anyone who needed one, she would go out of her way to make someone smile, and she would give her shirt off of her own back. She had a passion for music in so many ways, she played the trumpet with all of her heart and soul, sang in the choir, and desired to teach music to teens. Amanda was stubborn and never gave up, when she was going to do something she was going to do it, no stopping her.

She taught me how to give my all to others and go the extra mile to help someone. I miss her today to lean on, to talk to at high and lows of life, to see her smile, to hear her laugh, for her warm hugs, for her stories, support, and unconditional love."

"Amanda would do anything or go anywhere for anyone. She was everyone's
best friend. That was her gift. She loved unconditionally."


Thanks to Josh Metzger for video production and editing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• In
• It
• For
• Storms
• Amanda
• Hale
• IIFS
• Josh
• Metzger
• Tribute
• Death
• Funeral

[TheXLTE]

may her rip

[Rae13Nikki]

This made me cry..

[patrickbugilan]

soo good!

[Schwoebel435]

By far my favorite IIFS song. Glad this got the video it deserved.

[ParkourAndrew0]

Sorry again man for your loss.

I love the video and I'll support IIFS. =)