This issue we continue a feature called Young Rockford Woman. We celebrate the promise of the area's next generation.

Age: 20

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MELINDA NORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Amanda Torp-Pedersen

City of residence: Nashville

Hometown: Rockford

High school and year graduated: Rockford Christian, 2007

College and area of study: Enrolled as a songwriting major with a music business minor at Belmont University in Nashville.

Family: Parents, Chris and Debbie Torp-Pedersen; three sisters: Lauren, 18; Morgan, 15; and Megan, 12; and a brother, Jonah, 10.

Involvements and accomplishments: I am a member of Service Corps. As a member, I’ve had the opportunity of being at several award shows, including working the dressing rooms for the CMT Awards and escorting country artists to their press rooms. I played my first concert at the Rockford RiverHawks’ Faith Night, and I have sung at the National Day of Prayer. I was the 2007 winner of the vocal competition for On the Waterfront. I sang for the RiverHawks, Rockford Raptors, Rockford Lightning (still wish they were in town) and the Rockford IceHogs. I was the first in my high school to win the poetry competition for the Rockford Woman’s Club, took first place in the Dean’s Food poetry competition, and am in a master’s songwriting and lyric-writing course at Belmont.

What’s next: I’m working on completing and marketing it my first CD. Also, I will perform in different Nashville venues this summer.

What I do for fun: I love spending time with friends, playing Ultimate Frisbee, swimming, baking, jamming out to music in the car and swing dancing.

I define success as ... being a woman God would be proud of, and being a role model and a witness for him. God has a plan for everyone; we just need to be open to listen to him.

Best advice I have received: Be yourself. It doesn’t matter what other people think of you. You shouldn’t have to change who you are just to please others. People will love you for you.

Being a woman means ... being confident in yourself. Women are strong individuals, and we often lose sight of the fact that we are strong, amazing and beautiful.

My mom always told me: God has a purpose and will for my life. He will open doors and close windows. Everything happens for a reason. All the obstacles we face will only make us stronger. We can take all the lessons we learn along the way and apply them to any obstacles or trials that we will face.

A woman I admire who is not my mom: Faith Hill. For being known as the Queen of Country Music, she has an amazing story. She was adopted when she was a week old, and moved to Nashville when she was about my age to pursue a musical career. She has achieved her dream of becoming a country performer, becoming a legend in country music through her perseverance. She is an extremely grounded woman who started the nonprofit Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation in 2005 with her husband, Tim McGraw. It provides funding for communities for children and adults in need of proper health care and education.

No. 1 issue facing women: Single parenthood. I find that a lot more women are becoming single mothers either because of a divorce, their husbands have died, or they are having children out of wedlock. These are unbelievably strong women because they are raising their children while balancing a job and taking care of the household. My grandmother, Lorraine, raised five children on her own. She is incredibly strong.

Ten years from now, I’ll ... still be singing and writing music. Since age 4, I have been singing, and I doubt I will ever stop. I hope to be a role model for other young women. I want them to know that abstinence is important, that it’s that much more special if you wait for marriage.

Something I’ve always wanted to do/learn: I would love to visit Egypt. I am completely fascinated with that culture. I also would love to skydive.

The piece of technology I can’t live without: My cell phone. I am constantly texting and talking to people throughout the day. I can’t go anywhere without it.

If you know a promising young woman between ages 16 and 24 who lives in the Rock River Valley, send her name, contact information, and a brief description to jpollock@rockfordwoman.com.