Nov. 8, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Each Thursday, gostanford.com presents an interview between a former Stanford gymnast and team manager Tori Lewis. This week, Tori interviews Amy Murakami. The following is Tori's conversation with Amy:

Q: Can you catch everyone on up on what you've been doing since you graduated Stanford?

A: I started working for Oracle after graduation and I'm still there. I am a manager in a Software Quality Assurance team that verifies business flows across our EBusiness Suite of business applications. I met my husband, Mike, at Oracle. We were married in 2005 and our daughter, Tama, was born Christmas morning 2009

Q: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment so far?

A: I made a person! And she is funny, and bright, and adorable, and dramatic, expressive, super girly, and incredibly stubborn. Some days she drives me absolutely bananas, but I just love her so much and am so proud and feel so lucky to be her mom.

Q: What life lesson has stuck with you from your time in the gym?

A: The lesson I've been thinking about the most lately is that you can make things happen, or at least you can and should try! I remember my senior year I was having a particularly awful week in the gym. I was standing in Burnham the day of the meet, waiting to salute the judges, and I remember wondering how my bar routine was going to turn out. Thankfully I mentally slapped myself and came to my senses before starting the routine. I reminded myself that I was not a passive spectator and that I could and should do everything I could to make the routine turn out the way I wanted it to. I hit the routine and felt a great sense of accomplishment when I finished. Unfortunately, I haven't been applying that lesson enough to my life lately, but I'm working on it!

Q: What's your favorite memory from SWG?

A: I always loved just walking into the Ford Center. I loved walking in, knowing that I belonged, and knowing that I was going to spend the afternoon doing something cool with my best friends.

A: Oh there are so many, but they probably wouldn't make sense or be appropriate to tell here. One thing I can share is that we were a silly team that really liked to take pictures. One of my favorite pictures was at a meet in Arizona. There was a stagecoach in front of the hotel. We passed it on a walk and within about 10 seconds, with barely a word spoken, everyone got into different positions to recreate a stagecoach hold up. We had damsels in distress, gunmen, and horses, even cacti!

Q: What do you miss most about your time with SWG?

A: I really miss the team. I also miss being able to go upside down without getting a headache!

Q: Do you have any other thoughts or reflections about your particular era with the team?

A: Wow, did we have to wear some horrible leos and sweats. During my time at Stanford, we went through a lot of change (3 coaching staffs in 4 years) and a lot of adversity (some forced), but we had a lot of fun all while accomplishing a lot of great things and helping to build the program. I feel so lucky to have been a part of it and for getting to meet so many amazing people who have become life long friends.

Q: How have you stayed in touch with the community post-graduation?

A: Most of my best friends are former teammates so we chat often and love keeping up with what amazing things Kristen and the current team are doing. I am so excited to head back to campus this weekend to take my husband and daughter to their first Stanford Football game and to cheer Larissa Fontaine as she becomes the first female gymnast to be inducted into Stanford's Hall of Fame!!

Q: Do you have any advice for the current athletes?

A: Have so much fun! It's amazing how quickly it goes by.