By Amanda Millea
Before you start reading this, there are a few things you should know about me:
1. My iPod consists of mostly 90s pop music
2. I have a loud, unique laugh
3. I smile… a lot.
4. I live for my NBC Thursday night line-up (see #5.)
5. I am in love with Tina Fey
These five things are a huge factor in who I am today. However, today the purpose of this article pertains mostly to my number five: Tina Fey. To you, she may be no one. To me, she’s “Tina Fey: The female writer and actress that changed my life.”
I recently read her book. It was amazing that a celebrity could speak to me as much as she did as I was reading her book. From her going through the same self-esteem issues as every other teenage girl, to her views on being a comedy writer in what she thought to be a man’s world, saying Fey is my hero is something I would consider to be an understatement.

I have always known Fey to be a strong, independent female. I knew her as the first female head writer on Saturday Night and writer of the movie every teenage girl should be able to quote “Mean Girls.” She taught me there is nothing wrong with being myself. I can be whatever I want as long as I strive to achieve it.
Specifically, here are the lessons I took from Fey:

I’m going off to college in August. I’ve thought a lot about the person I am, the person I want to become. I want to become a writer. I will not make money, but I will be happy as a clam doing what I love. I want to inspire others through comedy writing, even if some may not appreciate my sense of humor. It may work out, it may not. One can only hope for the best.  I am completely okay with the fact not everyone will like me. I’m me and I’m not changing for anyone. I will laugh until my voice goes out, I will break out my un-coordinated dance moves whenever I please, I will sing as loud as I can (because, in the car, I know I’m good enough to have my own record deal), I will continue to obsess over dry-witted television shows, I will smile until I might as well be a Barbie, and I will ALWAYS be in love with Tina Fey.

My name is Amanda, and I love who I have come to be.