Demi Taveras recently joined the Nonahood News team as a staff writer and quickly took over the role of Copy Editor. She’s a young soul who is so eager to learn, and she inspired the other members of the nona.media team upon her initial meeting.
Rapid Fire Questions:
Extrovert or Introvert? “Can I say extroverted introvert? I’m a little bit of both; I love meeting new people and socializing often, but I definitely take time out for myself to read, write and relax.”
Indoors or Outdoors? “Indoors. Unless it’s the beach or pool, then count me in.”
Sun or Snow? “Sun! I’ve gotten accustomed to the Florida sun since moving here, and now I truly cannot handle anything under 50 degrees.”
Dogs or Cats? “Dogs. I’ve always loved dogs but never got to have one growing up. Cats are a bit brooding, so I prefer the lightness and silliness of a cute, fluffy dog.”
Vans or Converse? “Vans. Got three pairs sitting in my closet, and they just dropped a Harry Potter collection. I might have to spend some of my next paycheck on some Slytherin Vans.”
Coffee or Tea? “Coffee! I drink tea, too, but coffee is a must every day, especially when I’m in school. If I don’t walk into class with some Dunkin, something’s off.”
Adventurous or Laid Back? “I’m super laid back. A perfect day for me is laying on the beach, soaking in the sun, music in the background, and drowning out all requests to play volleyball.”
Canon, Nikon or Sony? “Canon.”
Books or TV? “Tough question, but as an English major, I’ll have to say books. I love to read and get immersed in stories through that medium. Good writing can be powerful, and there’s so many wonderful writers and writing styles out there. The possibilities are just endless with books! You can’t go wrong.”
What brought you to the Nonahood?
“So I graduated high school in Newnan, Georgia, and knew I wanted to go to university out of state. I really loved the University of Central Florida’s campus, and UCF had the major I wanted, so I made the decision to enroll there. My parents always wanted to move back to Florida, so they saw it as their chance and bought a home in the Lake Nona area. I had originally been living on campus, but I moved back in with them after falling in love with Lake Nona.”
What’s your favorite hobby?
“I love to dance. I’ve always loved dancing since I could walk, and I studied jazz, hip hop, and a little bit of ballet and tap in dancing schools. Since I started college, I mostly go out to studios and dance Latin styles, but I’m always open to learning new styles and dancing the night away. And yes, I am that friend who dances around in public.”
What’s your biggest dream?
“My biggest dream is to work as an editor-in-chief one day for a publication or a publishing house. I’m graduating college in December, and I have a long way to go to master the ropes of editing and publishing. But I’m looking forward to starting that path and working toward that dream in order for it to become a reality.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
“Hopefully as an editor-in-chief! I’m speaking my answer to the biggest dream question into existence. I also see myself married and having done a lot of traveling, as well as having lived in different places in the United States and maybe in Europe.”
Who’s your biggest inspiration?
“My mother, without a doubt. There are many things to admire about her – her work ethic, her motherly instincts for everyone, her moral compass, her strength, her acceptance. My favorite characteristic about her is how unapologetic she is for being herself. Having someone like her as a mother makes me want to be a better person, so everything I do is to make her and my father proud.”
What’s your favorite book?
“It changes all the time, but right now, it’s In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. It tells the true story of the four Mirabal sisters who were revolutionaries in the Dominican Republic during the dictatorship of Trujillo. Alvarez interweaves all four women’s perspectives throughout the novel. Her language is gorgeous, her characters (based off the actual sisters) are incredibly real, and as a Dominican woman, I was just so happy to read this book and see myself in these female characters.”
What’s something you’ve done that scared you the most or brought you out of your comfort zone?
“Moving from Georgia to come to Orlando, a place where I only knew a handful of people, and starting fresh in a new state at only 17 brought me extremely out of my comfort zone. I am so glad I took the leap and ventured out of what was comfortable for me. The experiences I’ve had here have shaped me into an entirely different person, and I’m very grateful for it.”
Describe one of your most memorable experiences.
“My quinceañera. My fifteenth birthday when I had a huge, beautiful party with all of my loved ones. While it is traditionally the day a girl becomes a woman with the changing from ballet flats to heels (I did sneakers instead of flats), I felt that day was the turning point in my life where I gained confidence, maturity and security in myself and my future. And almost six years later, there’s still much to learn and grow, but I believe it’s only up from here!”
Check back next month to get to know another nona.media staff member/partner!
