Secondly, I would like to thank Amanda Butler, for her relentless support,
challenging motivation, and great love. She saw the good in me before I even knew it
was there and would not let me settle for an average life.
I am also very thankful to my extended family; especially my grandparents and
Aunt Diane. They never really knew exactly what I was up to, but they were proud and
encouraging and that mattered. Also, a huge amount of gratitude goes to my
classmates and the AEC department. The role of a part-time student presented its fair
share of challenges, but there was always a welcoming circle of support and inspiration
waiting in Rolfs Hall.