By Kaydence Parke
In the chaos of teaching, court cases, law school, and parenting four kids, Amanda Nelson often laughs. Her husband, Eric Nelson, said when she’s extremely stressed, she starts laughing her way through it–a small habit that helps her push through a workload most people couldn’t handle.
Amanda Nelson sits at her desk at Casper College as she studies for law school and teaches full-time.
Nelson’s story is one of full-circle determination. Once a Casper College paralegal student, she is now the sole paralegal instructor revitalizing the program while also attending law school and raising a family. Through overwhelming workloads and long nights, she shows her students and family resilience because she lived it herself.
Nelson started the paralegal program at 17-years-old, and she gave birth to her and Eric’s oldest son shortly before graduating from CC. She said becoming a paralegal student was exciting but challenging. Nelson explained she was tired and questioned if chaos and stress would be the rest of her life. She said she learned a lot from that time in her life–organization, time management, and determination.
“All of that set me up for my future,” Nelson said. “I use a lot of those skills with what I’m doing now.”
Nelson hesitated to apply for the paralegal instructor job because she didn’t know what that transition to teaching would look like for her life. She said she was up against many experienced individuals, but she also brought 15 years of experience and ties to the community. Now the only paralegal instructor, she said she loves her work, and it brings her joy to see young students excited for career opportunities. Since starting at CC, Nelson worked to revitalize the paralegal program. When she first stepped into the role, enrollment was low, but she expanded class offerings and increased accessibility.
“She has changed the paralegal program’s offerings, and now they have hybrid, face-to-face, in person–you can pretty much do the program in any way you want,” Communication Instructor Bri Weigel said. “Imagine the work that it takes to be able to say, ‘no matter where you are, I’ll make it work.’”
Weigel described Nelson as an “energizer bunny,” saying her energy and workload aren’t recognizable from the outside. To most people, Nelson seems upbeat and prepared, but Weigel said only those close to her understand the hard work she carries. Weigel said Nelson’s signature phrase–”it will be fine”–slipped into many conversations, like a reminder of her calmness through the chaos.
Law school didn’t replace anything in Nelson’s life–it joined everything she already managed. Adding 30 to 35 hours of homework a week pushed her already packed schedule into something many may find impossible.
According to Nelson, “I was terrified to start law school because I knew it was going to suck. There are a bunch of late nights and early mornings.”
She explained that beginning anything new can be the hardest part, but she took the leap. That mindset followed her as she took on law school. Nelson said she knew the decision to go to law school was going to be tough while juggling everything she already had going on, but she wanted to keep working toward her future. Eric said she has always had that work ethic and compassion.
“I’m proud because she’s definitely a hardworking individual, but at the same time, she can be kind and compassionate towards others,” Eric said. “She has more drive than any individual I’ve ever met.”
Nelson said her experience as an overwhelmed student shapes how she teaches now. She stays accessible outside of regular hours and gives students room to be humans. She said she remembers what it felt like to juggle class, work, and family at the same time. She hopes her students remember that she was always willing to help them succeed, even years after they graduate. Nelson said she wants her students to feel comfortable reaching out even after they leave CC, whether they need career advice or just someone to tell them they can do hard things.
Even with her packed schedule, Nelson still brings humor and honesty into her teaching. She said she leans on jokes, stories, and her own lived experiences to make the classroom feel human.
“I can’t fake it-I’m just me,” Nelson said. “I want to be a teacher you can relate to, not one that’s just lecturing you.”
Nelson’s life now looks nothing like it did when she first became a paralegal student, unsure of what the future would hold. As she juggles law school, a full teaching load, a busy household, and much more, she hasn’t lost the ability to laugh through the chaos. In many ways, her journey has come full circle.
