Amanda Howell

“Del Mar helped me to refocus my life and come to terms with my big secret.”

Meet Amanda Howell, Class of '11

Professor Marla Chisholm taught me that I am in control of my thoughts and emotions: that nobody can make me feel angry, sad, or powerless. I choose my emotions. That knowledge helped me to turn my life around. I recovered from a severe eating disorder. Eating disorders are not rooted in eating issues, they are rooted in control issues. That lesson is still important in my life. When I start to lose control, I think, “ How am I going to choose to deal with this? ” Marla Chisholm taught me that I can allow myself to be close to others without losing myself.