Camille Ruiz Mangual joined the Nonahood News team recently as a staff writer, and we’re so happy to have her on board! She is a major asset to the team, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for her future!

Rapid Fire Questions:

Extrovert or Introvert? “I think I’m a little bit of both. I love getting to know new people and learning all about them; I recharge around people. But sometimes I do enjoy having time to myself to listen to podcasts or write.”

Indoors or Outdoors? “In this heat? Indoors, 100%. Although I will say, I love the beach so much, and if it wasn’t sweltering out (or raining), I would be on the beach at all times.”

Sun or Snow? “I’ve never seen snow, so I guess my default answer has to be sun.”

Dogs or Cats? “Dogs! I’ve never had a dog, but I have always loved them. Don’t get me wrong, I like cats, too, but I have never found them as charming as dogs.”

Vans or Converse? “Vans. I think I got my first pair of Vans when I was in middle school because that was the kind of shoe that everyone had, but then I genuinely just liked how they looked and kept buying them. I considered getting Converse recently, but I can’t betray my loyalty to Vans like that.”

Coffee or Tea? “Coffee. I’m not one of those people who drinks coffee every day, though. I like making coffee maybe two or three times a week.”

Adventurous or Laid Back? “Hmm … adventurous to an extent. I love traveling, and if traveling wasn’t expensive, I would visit so many more places. That being said, I like having some kind of plan when I go on adventures.”

Canon, Nikon or Sony? “Canon! I bought my first (and only) Canon DSLR when I graduated from high school, and it is the same camera that I use today, so Canon has a special place in my heart.”

Books or TV? “Books! I love learning, so I read a lot of nonfiction books like memoirs and self-help books. Plus, I get bored of TV shows really, really easily.”

What brought you to the Nonahood?

“My parents! We moved to Lake Nona 16 years ago. I was four years old at the time and didn’t have too much of a choice in where I moved, haha. However, I did choose to go to the University of Central Florida for undergrad so I could live at home here in Lake Nona. I love how modern everything is and the sense of community here.” 

What’s your favorite hobby? 

“Recently, it’s been going to the gym. I got a membership at Crunch Fitness in May and have gone almost every day since then. I feel like working out is a stress reliever, and I love carving out that hour or two to just work myself and my health. I really enjoy lifting weights, although I’m not that strong yet, haha. It’s weird to say that going to the gym is my hobby because a few months ago I thought gyms were truly the most intimidating places ever, but now I’m there all the time.”

What’s your biggest dream? 

“My biggest dream is to work as a marketing/communications director (the name varies based on the company or the country). I’m about to start my master’s in communication, and I know I still have a lot to learn before I can take on that role, but I’m excited to work for that. I also dream of living in a different country or state. So if I can do both, that would be amazing.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

“Life is so unpredictable that it’s hard to say where I’ll be! In 10 years, I see myself having traveled, married, living in a different state or country, hopefully working as a marketing/communications director. And, I really hope I have a dog by then.” 

Who’s your biggest inspiration? 

“Can I pick two? My biggest inspirations are my parents. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize just how much my parents do for me and for my siblings that we don’t even notice or think to thank them for. My parents work hard to provide for us, to support our dreams, and to keep growing as individuals. I have learned so much from them directly and indirectly. They’re the ones who inspire me to aim for bigger and better things, to get out of my comfort zone, and to never underestimate what I am capable of. Seeing them thrive both at work and in their personal lives inspires me to be more like them.”

What’s your favorite book? 

“I don’t have a favorite because I love so many books that it’s hard to say just one is my absolute favorite. If I had to pick one right now, it would be Becoming by Michelle Obama or The Secret History by Donna Tart.”  

What’s something you’ve done that scared you the most or brought you out of your comfort zone? 

“I moved out to pursue my master’s. Well, okay, at the time of this interview, I’m less than a week away from actually moving, but it’s the same idea. It sounds crazy given that my biggest dream involves me living in a different country or state, but moving out was definitely out of my comfort zone. I’m not too far from home, though; baby steps. Plus, I’m the kind of person who worries about school, so I’m a little nervous (but mostly excited) for grad school.”

Describe one of your most memorable experiences. 

“I graduated from UCF with my B.A. in English in May and, honestly, that time was such a whirlwind. I found out that I would be graduating from the College of Arts and Humanities as a Top Honor graduate, which means that I earned the highest GPA in my college for the spring commencement. As a result, I was one of the first undergraduate students to walk the stage at the ceremony, I was given a special medallion, and I was invited to a pre-graduation breakfast with Interim President Thad Seymour and other faculty members. Graduations are always special, but this one meant something more to me because of all the ups and downs of college. It showed me not only that all the flash cards and late nights were worth it, but it was a culmination of an amazing three years. I think a part of me will be forever grateful for the opportunities I had and the people I met at UCF.”

Check back next month to get to know another nona.media staff member/partner!