For Amanda Salen, working for the U.S. Postal Service wasn’t always part of the plan. But it’s quickly become more than just a job — it’s a calling that’s taken her from delivery routes to clerical roles, through career changes, and even into harm’s way.
Salen, a Part-Time Flexible (PTF) Clerk with the Pine Grove Post Office, often travels to nearby towns to help staff other locations, like the Hamburg Post Office, where she recently reflected on her career and the unexpected experience that tested her resolve.
Originally trained as a certified nursing assistant, Salen spent 13 years in healthcare before pivoting careers. “I was sitting on my front porch and saw the mail carrier go by,” she said. “And I just knew — that’s what I wanted to do.”
She began her postal career in January 2021 as a city carrier and quickly grew to love the work. “If you can get through the first three to six months, you’re golden,” she said with a smile. “It’s demanding — physically and mentally — but incredibly rewarding.”
