Interview of Tonya Anderson

Dylan Barton

11/11/14

What seemingly was going to be a stale interview with a member of Pennsylvania’s state government turned into a rather inspirational experience. The event took place during a Media Writing course at Lycoming College, as a way for the students to gain experience conducting interviews as if they were journalists. The setting was usual, but the subject was more entertaining and motivating than anyone would have guessed.

Through asking questions of Tonya Anderson, the students were able to gather information about her, such as her role in State Representative Rick Mirabito’s office as his chief of staff. On a daily basis, her duties revolve around directing staff members toward the goal of passing appropriate legislation for the district. She admitted that she is good at her job and enjoys being on the more functional side of politics. While it isn't odd these days for a woman to have a position with this level of power and influence, it is a bit less likely for that woman to not be Caucasian, Anderson being of mixed race.

Having overcome the male-dominated world of politics and also the racial barrier along the way, those aren't the only things that Anderson had to contend with. If Anderson was to be compared to any athlete, she would certainly be a hurdler, and a good one at that. This comparison becomes more clear given other information obtained through questioning her. She was brought into the world by teenage parents, then had the stress of being a child of the military, which entailed moving frequently from base to base. This familiarity with the military led her to want to be in the Navy. She managed to get accepted to the Naval Academy, an institution that has a reputation for being both hard to access and very strict on student performance and  behavior. As things were looking hopeful for Anderson, the course of her life changed that resulted in Tonya leaving the college after only two years.

Tonya met and married to her husband, a member of the Marine Corps, whom she met while at the Academy. Together they had a son, but are now divorced. She also finished her degree at the University of Hawaii in political science. During this period Tonya also began working as a flight attendant, which made parenting tricky. Also at this time, Anderson experienced sexual assault.

While working flights going coast to coast, Anderson was certain to take advantage of every chance to spend time with her son. One of the turning points in her life happened surrounding 9/11/01, particularly because she was in control of flight crews that had to continue operating flights while carrying an immense amount of fear and anxiety following that day’s events. It is at this time that she decided that she wanted to make a shift from risking crisis each day to having a job on the ground, one that was closer to where her son’s father lived, as well.

Williamsport was the town she chose, and due to the experience she endured at the Naval Academy and other incidents, she began working as a domestic violence and sexual assault counselor. In this role, she could help victims of abuse get their lives back on track. It is admirable that Anderson could use that very negative aspect of her life to improve those of others.

An aspect of Anderson’s life that has helped her to overcome struggles and allowed her to be the passionate and caring person she is today is her spirituality. She said she has meditated at a variety of temples and uses this practice to help her through rough times at the office. This, however, doesn't mean she lets her beliefs cloud her judgement professionally. When asked about her stance on gay marriage, she focused on the beauty of love instead of worrying about sanctity of marriage as a ritual, unlike many other politicians of certain faiths.

In her spare time Anderson is a writer. She told the class that she writes spiritual non-fiction, covering divine sexuality, the sacredness of sex, creating babies, and the beauty of the whole process. While other writers tend to focus on the ugly side of sexual conduct, it is nice to see someone who would rather be in awe of the activity.

In conclusion, everyone present in the media writing class were surprised at the genuine wisdom and grace of Tonya Anderson and her life.