By Andrea Banda
Assistant Opinions Editor
Amy Barfoot, a 20-year-old junior from Arcadia, Calif., knows how to juggle activities and classes while still managing to keep her sanity.
This psychology major sings in the Concert Choir, directs campus activities for the Alpha Phi sorority and tutors in her spare time.
And besides lending a hand, Barfoot truly enjoys using her hands to help other people. She is fluent in American Sign Language and wants to pursue a career in aiding deaf children. Her connection with the hearing impaired people and their culture has inspired her to use her language skills to help others find their way to communicate in a silent world.
But Barfoot’s own world is far from soundless. Her passion for singing is not confined to choir songs, as she hums and sings in the car, while studying or walking to class. She said she genetically inherited her father’s love for music, as she not only sings, but has also played a variety of instruments.
Barfoot traveled to seven different countries in 10 weeks with the Summer 2002 program in Florence. And her friends say that Barfoot’s trademarks are her smile and one-of-a-kind laugh.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Wow, this is hard. Spending summers in Oregon visiting family friends for two weeks at a time with my family. We would pick berries, make pies and ride bikes. We were also constantly swimming in the pool, water skiing, camping with other families. We’d watch “Nick at Nite” every single night for hours. It was so fun.
What is your favorite TV show of all time?
“I Love Lucy.” During my freshman year of high school, I was home sick one day, turned the TV on and it was on. When I watch it I can turn my brain off and not think about everything else that I’m stressed about at the moment. I just crack up. I think Lucille Ball is one of the best comedians ever.
When did you begin learning sign language?
It was offered as a language at my high school, and my freshman year I started taking it for fun. I picked it up pretty quickly and eventually took five levels. My senior year I was a teacher’s assistant to all of the sign classes. I just fell in love with learning about deaf culture and getting to know deaf people. I went to deaf plays, residential schools and just fell in love with it. I love the uniqueness of the language.
What have you done with signing since high school?
My freshman year of college I worked at a deaf residential school and volunteered there and also at a speech pathology office. I worked with a lot of deaf children in that atmosphere, helping them to gain voicing skills and the ability to speak. Within the next semester I hope to finish a few more classes.
I want to intertwine my psychology major and sign language experience. People don’t realize it, but there are hardly any people who do that and deaf children need that the most. Sometimes even parents don’t learn the language and the children struggle.
What would be the ultimate career?
To run my own clinical practice that specialized in deaf children. And to reach out primarily to them and at the same time work or volunteer in a school system, preferably having access to a deaf residential school so I can work with deaf children in grades K-6.
How did you become involved in music?
My dad is a composer and publisher, so he started me in piano lessons when I was 5. I played the flute when I was 12 and I started singing when I was really young. I have been involved in singing groups ever since, including orchestra groups in high school. Freshman year at Pepperdine I sang in “Collegium Musicum,” sophomore year I took private voice lessons and this year I’m in the concert choir.
Do you enjoy playing instruments or singing more?
That is an incredibly tough decision. But I’d probably say singing because it is more conducive to practice and a little bit less of a time commitment now that I’m in college.
What has been your most exciting musical moment?
I sent in a tape with a group of three others senior year of high school to Dodger Stadium. We were called back to sing the National Anthem. That was one of the best highlights so far of how I have applied what I have learned musically.
Why did you decide to go to Florence?
I had never before been to Europe and one of our very good family friends was born and raised in Italy and has been there multiple times since she moved here. She knew that Pepperdine had a program in Florence and when I started at Pepperdine she would take me to her house and cook Italian meals for me, answer questions, show me pictures. Plus I talked to my good friends who had been there and they absolutely loved the whole ambience of being in Italy.
What is your most interesting story from your travel abroad?
There’s two actually. One was in the Milan train station. I was sleeping on a bench waiting for my train and I woke up to a leering Italian man touching my chest in a rather friendly way. The second one was within my first week in Italy I traveled to Rome and I got arrested by the Italian Military Police in the Metro station with a couple of friends for using a one-ride Metro pass eight times. I had to pay 52 Euro and a lot of crying to get out of it.
If you could re-live one moment in your life, what would it be?
Sitting in Mass at Notre Dame in Paris, hearing the choir sing in Latin and being completely awe struck by my surroundings.
What are some of your pet peeves?
When people ask questions that have already been answered and didn’t hear because they weren’t listening. And when people slam on their brakes for no apparent reason.
Who is the most influential person in your life?
I would have to say both of my parents and my stepparents. Despite the fact that my parents divorced when I was 5 and that my dad moved across the country with my brothers when I was starting high school, I never fail to get continual support, encouragement and love from each one of them. They push me to never give up no matter what obstacles I encounter.
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke. It doesn’t seem quite as sweet, although I really don’t like soda in the first place.
What do you order on your pizza?
Usually sausage, pepperoni and onions.
What is the most interesting or unexpected thing that has happened to you at Pepperdine?
Last semester I started dating my good friend and sorority sister’s brother, Steven Potts. In the past, a dating relationship has been completely separate from my relationship with my best friends. Now, it’s such a blessing because I have a circle of such close friends that already know him and enjoy spending time with both of us together.
How do you find a balance with your time among all the things you do?
I’ve always been very good at not procrastinating and budgeting my time between my studies, my sorority, social life and tutoring. I think the key is to in between all of that, find quality time to share with good friends. It’s vital for your own personal sanity throughout college.
October 24, 2002