Liv Barton, Staff Writer —
On any given weekday, you’ll find Amanda Finkle making her rounds around South Quad, vibrantly chatting with students. What most don’t know is that Finkle’s journey to Denison is one that could only be described as cosmic.
About three years ago, Finkle was working at a local greenhouse and was responsible for getting plants ready for shipment. Around the same time, Finkle’s life had been turned upside down in the aftermath of a separation. She lost nearly everything. The apartment she was set to move into was infested with black mold, and with her young daughter, it wasn’t a risk she was willing to take. This led her to her parents’ front porch in Newark.
After moving in with her parents, Finkle continued to work at the greenhouse. At age 29, Finkle left her Mormon faith she had spent her life practicing. This destructuring of everything she’d ever known was more than challenging. Every aspect of her life and identity surrounded something that no longer fit into her life.
“I knew that my name was Amanda, and that I’m a woman, and that was the only thing I knew about myself,” said Finkle.
Finkle’s journey of self-discovery began and she turned to the universe for guidance. She decided she needed to quit her job at the greenhouse and move to a new place, with the support of her family and her newfound faith. After a month of job hunting, a coworker from the greenhouse posted on Facebook that she had begun working at Denison, which sparked curiosity. She knew they had a similar work experience, so Finkle applied and got the job as a Building Service Assistant.
October marks Finkle’s third year at Denison. Her time, so far, has been a very formative and educational experience. “I’ve been on this journey of learning who I am and what the world is about,” said Finkle, “And it’s just so good.”
For the first 30 years of her life, Finkle believed she was not smart enough to branch out. At Denison, Finkle feels supported and nourished by the community. Faculty members have the opportunity to take up to two courses a semester, so Finkle has been dabbling in different areas of academia, like ancient Greek courses or dance classes.
Finkle’s spiritual practices are still something very near and dear to her heart. She works with Goddess worship, specifically the divine feminine. Finkle is an artist, so one way in which she practices is by painting the goddesses, lighting candles, and cooking recipes that are traditional to that goddess’ area. Finkle collects costume jewelry and works it into her paintings. The goddesses she paints are also donned in shiny and sparkly jewelry.
Breaking free from the world that she knew was terrifying for Finkle. It forced her to learn a lot about herself and the world around her, quicker than she had expected. However, Finkle also learned to have grace with herself, keeping this in mind as she continues her journey of self-discovery.
“I’m capable. We can be gentle with ourselves,” said Finkle.
Photo: Amanda Finkle poses on South Quad. Liv Barton / The Denisonian