2 minute read
Safe Space
At Fanshawe, Amanda found a supportive community that allowed her to flourish.
“I feel like a part of me woke up when I was a student at Fanshawe,” says Amanda Tretter, a three-time graduate of the College (TV Broadcast and Film Production ’19, Advanced Film Making ’21, Video Effects and Editing ’21).
Amanda’s journey to post-secondary education success has not been an easy one. As a young teenager, Amanda’s mother passed away and she experienced bullying in school after moving to Europe to live with her sister.
When Amanda returned to Canada, she struggled with depression and mental health. After attending Western University for two years, she decided to change gears and investigate programs at Fanshawe.
“I was interested in the TV broadcasting program and passionate about producing videos,” Amanda recalls. “I still remember the excitement of being accepted.”
After arriving at Fanshawe, Amanda felt very welcome. “I spoke to each of my professors about my mental health and I was met with a lot of understanding and they were proud I was able to speak up about it,” she says. “It made me feel understood and safe.”
Having a supportive environment allowed Amanda to flourish and gain confidence while learning the skills she needed to start her career.
“The program was hard on my anxiety and I thought I couldn’t do it,” Amanda says. “But my professors encouraged me and I found a lot of support from my classmates.”
Today, Amanda runs her own company called Blue Scarf Productions . Amanda wants her clients to know that Blue Scarf is a safe production company for sharing stories. That ideology is represented in the name itself, with blue being an honest, loyal colour and the scarf representing comfort.
“I am very motivated to create content that has a positive influence,” Amanda says. “I want to create videos so people don’t suffer alone in mental illness like I experienced.”
