What’s your full name? Do you feel any connection to your name?

Amanda Brooke Gutierrez, only my last name because it ties me to the family me and my husband have made.

Where do you currently live?

Gilroy.

How did you end up living in the city / town you live in?

Moved to Gilroy when I was about 5 because my dad grew up there.

What keeps you living in the city / town you live in?

It’s a nice area close to family, friends, and the beach.

Would you change anything about your upbringing? 

Yes, I would have liked my mom to be more present.

Do you feel like an adult? What changed in you from youth to adulthood?

I feel like an adult but also like a kid sometimes. I like to joke and be silly as much as possible. Now that I’m older I realize not everything can be a joke.

When you look in the mirror, what do you tend to focus on about your appearance?

How chubby I might be looking. 

If you could change something about your physical being, what would it be?

I would like a smaller chest.

What do you tend to notice in strangers?

Definitely their teeth and how clean their shoes are.

What do you think strangers notice about you?

My chest.

What do think those that know you say about you?

I’m nice and funny.

What would you hope they would say?

I guess that I’m nice, funny, and that they like me.

What do you hope never changes about yourself?

My ability to see the positive in life.

When was the last time you cried?

The other day.

When was the last time you made an adult cry?

Couple of weeks ago. But it was happy tears.

If you could know exactly when and how you would die, would you want to know? 

Absolutely!

Often, mentors are made in the form of teachers and coaches. Someone who’s guidance affects your life for the better. Have you had a mentor that has made an impact on your life? If so, who was it and what was their impact? 

No, most people in my life thought I wouldn’t amount to much. I had to motivate myself.

Is there anything that you have dedicated your life to doing, or being? 

A Mom, mainly because mine wasn’t very good and wanted to be sure my kids had one.

How do you view the role of your job in your life? Does it play a role outside of money?

I enjoy my job and I am interested in it but if it didn’t pay me, I wouldn’t do it.

How much time do you spend thinking about work / school versus the other aspects of life? 

Too much, I obsess over things I can’t control, but I would say it doesn’t overshadow other worries, they are just as prominent.

Is that ratio you’re comfortable with?  

I would like to worry less in general, so no.

Do you have a rule, or rules, that guide how you live your life? Do you feel successful at following it?

I would say, think past yourself. For example, if you are up before your spouse be quiet don’t turn on the lights. If you’re at the grocery store, would they like a drink or a treat? Simple things like that.