Love, Learn, and Create are the three words I use to order my life. I wake each day with a morning walk around the beautiful lakes near my home, enjoying the sunbeams reflecting on the water, and listening to a multitude of birds. These morning walks remind me to love the simple treasures that each day holds. You might be skeptical, believing it impossible to find beauty amid the bustle of city life in Orlando, Florida. Moreover, living in the vacation capital of the world, some of us regularly visit our neighbors: Mickey Mouse and Harry Potter. We can spend a day traveling around the world at EPCOT, eating exotic foods. Further from the city, we can enjoy the sounds of crashing waves at the beach. We might sit quietly at a fresh-water spring and watch Manatees meander lazily about. We really need only walk outside our door to begin our next adventure.
Captured adventures add up to stories, and I also love stories. And this love of story drives my desire to learn. I am a wife, mother of two, teacher, accountant, IT Manager, and a lifelong student. For the last twenty-two years, I have worked for DaVita Inc., a healthcare dialysis company, at their laboratory in DeLand, Florida. I started off my career there as an accountant. I have been granted many opportunities to learn new things over the years and try out new talents. An accountant and teacher by trade, in the business world I have: taught Excel classes, puzzled out advanced analytics, developed a data warehouse, and managed an IT team who oversees the financial systems. It has been an adventure. I describe work as my extended-family. In fact, I met my husband through work 20 years ago. But, the thing I love the most about my job is the ability to learn new things and seeing where that knowledge will lead me next.
My desire to learn doesn’t stop with my career, but bleeds into my hobbies as well. Eight months pregnant with my second child, I decided I wanted to learn to knit. So, I took an afternoon off work and went to the local yarn shop. I sat there all afternoon learning how two needles and a ball of yarn can create beautiful patterns. Fourteen years later, I am still an avid knitter. My journey has taken me on road trips to sheep farms, yarn festivals, and yarn mills throughout the United States. I often feel I have been transported into the past to learn about the Bluestocking ladies of the 1700s, or women of the Shetland Isles in the 1800s. I purchase my yarn directly from small US sheep farms. And for the last two years, during the pandemic, I have started growing plants like madder (red), marigolds (yellow), and indigo (blue); enabling me to naturally dye the yarns that I use. I have learned so much in my hobby but I am constantly amazed that there is always so much more to know. I have a passion to share this love with children, and actively seek-out opportunities to teach knitting and natural dyeing when I can.
So, how did I end up in this Masters Program at FSU for Information Science? A few years back I tried to picture what I would be doing in ten years. By that time, my kids would be off to college and I would miss having them here at home. But I will not have changed. I will still need to keep learning new things. And, that means I will need a creative outlet. I did not see myself still working in an IT management role as I approach my mid-50s. And I don’t see myself retiring either. Since I love stories and teaching so much, I decided to set out on the path to become a Children’s Librarian. With the blessing of my family and the financial support of my employer, which encourages the pursuit of higher education, I enrolled.
If you find me, I will always be following my love of story into some new adventure, and creating beautiful things in a natural setting. Yes, Love, Learn, and Create are the right words to describe me.
by Tiffany Walters (@thelaststoryguard)
Hi Tiffany! First off, I want to say that you are such a great writer. I really enjoyed reading your bio. I think the motto “love, learn, and create” that you live by is so beautiful and something that we can all use in our life because life is all about constant growth.
I just recently moved to Orlando so I’m still new to the area. However, I am learning there are so many things to do outside of the amusement and water parks. I’m excited to go back and see what I can discover. My momma also worked at DaVita for a few years as a Social Worker so that was cool to read.
I loved your experience with knitting. At one time in my life, I wanted to try it but it was a little too difficult for me and I did not have enough patience at the time. I think it’s so awesome that you taught yourself to become an expert knitter and travel around the country for it. I hope to one day have a hobby that interests me as much as you are interested in knitting. What’s the thing you are most proud of making?
Hi Cameron! You should definitely give knitting another try. I tried to learn in college originally but gave up. It turns out that the lady teaching me knitted continental style. Since I am a strong right-hand person, English style was more for me.
The item I am most proud of is generally the one I am currently on. That sounds lame I know. It is really not the project but the act of knitting that is my love. Recently, I complete my first pair of socks and cheered out loud. I have made many sweaters, shawls, and hats. In all of these years, I have never completed a pair of socks. I always start but end up unraveling half way through. I has been the running joke in my house when I say I am going to need some socks.
Hi Tiffany!
It’s funny you mention the whole thing about Disney as I always get comments about Disney and other typical Florida attraction, yet I have never actually gone to them. Most of my friends abroad always think I live somewhere on the beach but I live in Yulee, so effectively, I live in the middle of nowhere. I also find it fun that you want to become a Children’s Librarian and you have a knack for knitting. I happen to be a Branch librarian and the first event I am having in my branch is a knitting group so hopefully that will be a success. I look forward to some of your work and I work with a lot of kids so if you ever have questions, I’m all ears!
Hi Tiffany,
The first word I uttered after reading your bio was “WOW”. Your story is truly inspiring for anyone, especially for a young mom like me. I started thinking about where I would be in the next ten years from now. Yes, I agree Florida and especially Orlando is a great place to live. And you know what I live in Tampa and visit Sanford in Orlando at least twice a year to my cousin’s house. So maybe we should meet the next time I come there. And let me know if you are teaching knitting or dyeing online, I would love to learn.
You are truly a Wonder Woman!