Name: Amanda Fredrickson
Where are you from?: Barrington, IL
What is your favorite field of study/topic: History
Describe yourself in a couple of words.
Hardworking, artistic
What does being a part of NPEP mean to you?
As someone serving a long sentence, I haven’t received a lot of opportunities to better myself. This program allows me the chance to create a base that I can build upon when released.
Why did you decide to apply to NPEP and what are you most excited about?
I’ve always regretted not going to college when I was younger, so this program has been an opportunity to achieve that. I’m very excited about studying subjects that I’ve not encountered to this point and was not able to study on my own.
What is something you would like people to know about you as a student?
There are two things that I would like people to know. The first is that I am very grateful for this opportunity and the second is that I’m highly dedicated to doing my best. The women in IDOC have often been overlooked with these kinds of programs and I believe that, as part of this first group, there is a responsibility to prove that we, too, are deserving and capable of growth.
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?
I would love to have dinner with Bette Davis because not only was she an amazing actress, she was strong, independent, and wholly herself. In a time when women were supposed to be soft and gentle and the studios dictated an actor’s career and image, she stood her ground against both those constraints. If she made a decision, she stood by it, as long as it was the best thing for her, even if it wasn’t popular or easy.