Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Weir.
Hi Amber, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a recent grad from The University of Texas at Austin (UT), where I majored in English Literature and Communications. I am originally from the South of England and moved to Texas with my parents following a job opportunity my mother had with her employer.
My move to Texas really opened me up to new perspectives and worldviews. A memorable inflection point in my personal journey came about following a course I took in Women and Gender Studies, which introduced me to radical women of color – writers such as Gloria Anzaludúa, bell hooks, and Audre Lorde. As a mixed-race identified woman growing up in England [my mother being from Zimbabwe and father from Scotland], I found it particularly liberating being exposed to voices with both shared and vastly different experiences to me.
This led me to explore how I can use the framework of intersectionality and insight these formidable women have provided, alongside women in my life. To incorporate their wisdom into the fabric of what I stand for and how I translate this into action professionally and personally.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Moving countries was daunting due to the adjustment that is required, more than I had anticipated. From mounds of administration such as visa and university paperwork to learning how to assimilate into a different culture.
The first year was the hardest because I felt lost in a new/different system without the comfort of the support system I had come to rely on through the closeness of friends and family back in the UK. The British and American university education systems, while ultimately culminating in similar outcomes, are different in approach and structure. What seemed ‘normal’ to some students, I found somewhat intimidating.
I knew that my success depended on maintaining a positive mindset, building strong networks, and determined application. However, what was most important to me as I embarked on this next stage of my journey that would influence my future trajectory, was that I did not lose my authentic self.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, where I found my place as a writer. I love the power of words and how they keep stories alive. My main focus on writing is centered around art, fashion, and culture.
For the past year, I held the position of Associate Print Editor for SPARK Magazine. My association with SPARK Magazine opened up an amazing opportunity for me to recruit and work closely with 25-30 writers selected from an application pull of around 70 writers. I found it very rewarding coaching and mentoring the recruits as they embarked on their individual journeys as writers – editing their work, providing 1-1 feedback, and supporting them to develop their own style, personal voice, relevance, and grammar.
My role on the Leadership team at SPARK and working with other editors was influential in my development as a writer, fostering space to grow and learn, reinvesting my experience as I expanded my own portfolio of work.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
For me, mindfulness and positivity are very important in how I go about my daily life. I find that being nice to yourself and others, allows you to build communities and connections that are authentic and real. As a writer, I think feedback is very important and I love having other friends edit my stories. I favor a community and collaborative style of leadership because I think it is so important to listen to others and foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable and like working together to reach a common goal.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: weir.amber
