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Alumna Shares Insight with Grads

Aiken, SC (12/16/2019) — The University of South Carolina Aiken invited Amanda Whittle, Class of '92, to address graduates during its December convocation ceremony.

"We're honored to welcome an accomplished and actively engaged alumna, who has returned to her alma mater to share insights with her future fellow alumni," said Dr. Sandra Jordan, chancellor.

Earlier this year, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Whittle South Carolina's State Child Advocate and director of the South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy.

Before taking on these responsibilities, she worked as an assistant general counsel for the state's Department of Social Services.

"Congratulations on choosing USC Aiken, a highly ranked public regional college in the South by US News and World Report year after year," Whittle told the members off the Class of '19.

"You made a great choice."

The Aiken native shared lessons she learned the hard way after almost accidently setting her own home and neighborhood on fire. When she was only a young girl, she tried to eradicate evil.

"I was a 7 year old on a mission. I was going to destroy evil -- completely," Whittle explained during her remarks.

Enlisting her brother to help, Whittle tried to first dig out what she thought were the roots of evil out of her backyard. When that wasn't taking care of the problem quickly enough, she decided to start a fire in the backyard.

She believed she had everything covered, though, as she made sure her brother had a firm grip on the garden hose in case things got out of hand.

"I lit about a million matches before a good fire started, and, once it did, I felt like I was well on my way," Whittle said.

But then, the fire quickly spread. Before the sibling duo knew it, the blaze went from their own backyard to the neighbors,' which was across a chain-link fence.

"I looked at my brother, and his mouth was wide open," Whittle explained.

"He was still holding that hose pipe, but it sure wasn't on."

Ultimately, she wasn't the hero she expected to be for getting rid of all evil.

From this childhood experience, Whittle said she learned three valuable lessons: know yourself, check yourself, and challenge yourself.

"The world needs you to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons - in the light of day, and while collaborating with people you trust who know things you don't know," Whittle shared with the grads.

First, she implored them to get to know themselves. She encouraged them to ask key questions: "What is your blindside? And how will you protect yourself and your neighbor's yard from it?"

Secondly, Whittle believes these future leaders need to "check themselves." She warns that she unilaterally came up with a plan and neither told anyone about it, nor did she ask ask anyone for their opinion, advice or permission.

"The truth is that I thought I had a fantastic plan and that I would be a famous and awesome person if it worked out," Whittle said during her keynote speech.

"I didn't want to share the credit with anyone.

"As it turns out, if I had actually discussed it with at least with my brother, we probably would have changed at least one thing.

"That water hose would've been on."

Finally, she encouraged the newest Pacer alumni to challenge themselves.

"The world needs you to think about big ideas that make the world better," the governor appointee said.

In addition to the lessons she learned very early, Whittle said she is grateful for the educational foundation she developed while at USC Aiken. She credited former professors with challenging her to explore political science and history, namely, Dr. Carol Botsch, Dr. Bob Botsch, Dr. Val Lumans, Dr. Girma Negash and many others.

"They were my community, and they embraced me - weirdness and all," Whittle admitted.

"I know you have people who have influenced you during your time here at USC Aiken. I hope you will stay connected with USC Aiken and this community," she told the grads.

The '92 grad was also a family court practitioner with Johnson, Johnson, Whittle & Snelgrove, Attorneys, P.A. She is admitted to the South Carolina Bar and United States District Court and is certified as a child welfare law specialist through the National Association of Counsel for Children.

Whittle launched her accomplished career after college. she earned her undergraduate degree from USC Aiken and her law degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

"Attending USC Aiken was one of the best decisions I have ever made," she said.

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The University of South Carolina Aiken invited Amanda Whittle, Class of '92, to address graduates during its December convocation ceremony.

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