dubbed her, was very forthcoming about her time on the show. She admits that she wasn't all that surprised that she went home, but that didn't make the news any easier for her. Amanda called it "the most traumatic thing that's happened in my life." She went on to say, "I just got voted off of a TV show. I was thankful to be there and privileged to have that many millions of Americans vote for me just to keep me on until 11. With someone like me, who is completely different, I'm cut out of a different mold from everyone else in the competition, I found that very warming that I had that much support." However, unlike some of her AI peers that have been voted off before her, Amanda doesn't necessarily think it was her song choice. As she put it, it was just another song that sounded like her singing it.

While Amanda embraces everything about being the "rocker chick" on the show, she does admit that it might not have actually helped when it came down to voting. She doesn't think that the AI viewers were able to relate to someone like her as much as perhaps the other Idols on the show. But she's still very proud that she stayed true to herself. In fact, she said "The main thing that I learned was that I've always been unique and different in the small confines of Indiana, but it was good to know that I was also unique in the nation's eyes, too. That was something I was unaware of." According to Amanda, she didn't really see herself ever winning, so her main objective was getting exposure. She's grateful to the show for supporting her in that way--in fact, Amanda even said that the style and makeup department let her pretty much do her own thing, which she loved.

When asked about the impression that some seemed to get that she was a bit aloof on the show, she actually said that it's just the way she's always come across to people she doesn't personally know. However, that doesn't mean she didn't get along with the other Idols. As she explained "My personality within itself, I tend to keep pretty sheltered and safe away from anything. I can count on two hands the friends and family that truly matter. Other than that, I'm kind of standoffish. In any situation where a group of people go through something like this there's an element of camaraderie there. Everybody is going through the same thing, so they're the only people that understand what everyone is going through. I had no problem fitting in." However, although Amanda was definitely disappointed to not make the AI tour this summer, she admitted that it might not have been the best idea, as she was really the only one who didn't quite fit with the others when it came to music.

When asked about her favorite performances, Amanda said she loved the songs she sang when on the big stage, as being that close to the crowd is when she is in her element. Despite being in her high school choir, Amanda also admitted the group performances were particularly rough for her, as she wasn't fond of doing the choreography.

The future is uncertain for Amanda, but she doesn't let that bother her. She calls these next six months a "waiting game," and if, after six months, she doesn't land a record deal or the like, she has no problem going back to her former career as a nurse. She admits to being "as green as they come," so she's hoping to get a little guidance in her pursuit of music. But she definitely has a clear notion of what success means to her. She put it best when she said "I'm a very ambitious and driven person by nature. I'm going to take calculated risks to achieve success, but everyone's definition of success varies from person to person. Success, to me, is a strong, healthy family and success in whatever job that you do. If this is just 15 minute of fame, I'm not going to chase it my whole life trying to get it back; I'll take it for what it is and move on. Hopefully it's not. Hopefully I can make a career out of this, but it's not going to be that unicorn that I keep chasing. "

Watch Amanda's candid exit interview, only on americanidol.com.