For a succinct, professional version—check out my LinkedIn. Here, you're in for a bit of a story:

After a few moments of shaky footage where my dad apparently hasn’t realized the camera has been recording, a loud exclamation of “OH CHILDREN, I'M VIDEOTAPING!"(in a thick Sinhalese accent), can be heard. A little girl with an awkward bowl haircut shows up on screen, with a teensy cute voice so adorable that you almost forget about the bowl hair. She’s singing into a croissant she’s holding (an annoyingly cute attempt at Itsy Bitsy Spider), while a chorus of 'Awws' can be heard in the background. 

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I wish I could say this child was me, but I have yet to make my on-screen debut...

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Moments later the camera pans out, and an older (more awkward) child is visible. She has her back right up against the corner of the room (hoping this helps shield her from view). Her attempts at invisibility are in vain. My dad can be heard pleading “Amanda, come on, please look at the camera!” prompting the older child to give several shifty side-eye glances in the general direction of the lens. Her hands start to move around strangely, exemplifying the age-old dilemma of Never Quite Knowing What To Do With Your Hands.

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As you may have guessed, I am the older (more awkward) child Amanda. No longer a child, but still an Amanda. 

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Growing up as a once-shy kid, I felt most at ease while lost in the world of a good book. The gripping plots and complex characters transported me into new, exciting experiences. They instilled in me a sense of wonderment, curiosity and imagination—to never settle for the mundane. 

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My love of reading translated into a love of writing. And I've spent the last several years telling stories—both professionally and personally.