Hello everyone! My name is Amanda Pazos, and I currently live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I’m pursuing a master’s degree in information with a focus on cultural informatics, and I’m excited to say this is my final semester!
Currently, I work as an assistant controller at a medical glove company, though I’m eager to transition into a new career as an information professional. Recently, I had the opportunity to work in the archives department at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This hands-on experience ignited my passion for digital archives and deepened my interest in preserving history through innovative technology.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, spending time at the beach, and attending concerts. My favorite genres to read are fantasy and romance. Musically, I appreciate a variety of styles but tend to gravitate to pop and rock. I also collect vinyl records, which I love for their unique sound. There’s a warmth and depth to vinyl, and even the subtle imperfections—like the snap and crackle as they play—add to the overall listening experience.
One of my lifelong goals is to visit every national park in the United States. Connecting with nature and taking in breathtaking landscapes is incredibly rewarding, making every hike worthwhile. So far, my favorite parks have been Zion National Park in Utah and Yosemite National Park in California.
I’m excited about this class and the opportunity to gain valuable skills in creating and managing digital content. I hope to discover new resources that will help me design more engaging posts and master the art of storytelling. These skills will be vital for crafting compelling narratives and visuals, particularly in archives and cultural preservation.
Best of luck to everyone this semester!
Hello Amanda, it’s nice to e-meet you! I also have to say, that I love the title of this blogpost, it’s so creative! I never knew that there was an archive at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. What a wonderful opportunity to work with archival materials, digital collections, and finding aids. The website is visually stunning and incredibly user-friendly. Do you plan on working in Archives and Special Collections in the future? I also love to travel but have not made it to many of the National Parks on my list, yet. How many National Parks have you been to so far?
Hi Emily! Thank you for the title recognition—haha, I tried! Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was such a beautiful place to work, and I do want to continue working in the Archives and Special Collections field. I think I want to dive more into the digital archivist role. I’ve been to about 20 National Parks so far, and since there are about 61, I still have a ways to go! Thanks for your comment!
Howdy Amanda! Congrats on your final semester~ I love travelling and going to a variety of concerts and shows. What’s your favorite artist or band? One of my favorite events that I attended was Warped Tour back in 2014, 2015, and lastly 2018. I was into pop punk and alternative rock when I was in middle school and high school. What is your favorite live performance? The most recent record I got for a friend was called Mad Dog by John Entwistle. I love going to old antique shops and record stores to look through records. I don’t have a record player myself though. Do you have a favorite record in your collection and how do you have it organized?
Hi Heather! Honestly, there are too many artists out there to just pick one, but I think Hozier is a big one for me. Oh my gosh, I went to Warped Tour in middle and high school too! I was into Mayday Parade, A Day to Remember, and Boys Like Girls. Haha, what a time! I also love going to antique stores and thrift shops; you can find some great quality items there. My favorite record right now is Billie Eilish’s isolated vocals vinyl for “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” but I also have some old Elton John records from my mom that I love. I’ve recently gotten a handheld scanner, and I use the Libib website to catalog my vinyl and book collection, which is organized by artist/author. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Amanda,
Congratulations on reaching your final semester! I think your hard work will pay off. Interestingly, it seems like Florida is a great place to be for the archival and museum world, we have a lot of world-class institutions in our funky little state, especially as compared to most of the south!
I definitely relate to your aspiration to visit all of the national parks, though I am still at the very beginning stages of this journey- I have yet to even visit the Everglades, despite living in Florida for the majority of my life. Fortunately, I have relatives in Canada who brought me to Banff, Lake Louise, and Elk Island. Canada has some unbelievably gorgeous national parks as well, which I would highly recommend seeking out if you get the chance (especially Banff- easily the most breathtaking place I’ve ever visited).
I have always wanted to visit Dry Tortuga National Park in the Keys. Have you been? The barrier to entry, it being one of the few national parks only accessible by watercraft, only adds to the allure. Alas, I do not have a boat! My friend put a fascinating opportunity on my radar, however: Dry Tortuga NP offers an Artist in Residence program for partners and couples. You moonlight as a lighthouse keeper while developing creative projects and living on the island for a stretch of time. If I wasn’t so troubled by the prospect of being left behind during a hurricane (!!!), I would seek it out. https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/dry-tortugas
Hi Craig,
I completely agree that Banff and the other Canadian parks are amazing, Banff has been on my bucket list for years. I’ve seen photos of Lake Louise, and it looks absolutely unreal! I hope you get a chance to visit the Everglades soon. It’s such a unique ecosystem, and exploring it by airboat is such a great experience.
I haven’t been to Dry Tortugas National Park yet, but it’s definitely on my list! The idea of reaching it only by boat adds to its charm but also makes it a bit more challenging to get there. I didn’t know about the Artist in Residence program—that sounds like such a unique and incredible opportunity (though I can completely understand the hesitation with hurricane season!).
Best of luck with your own national parks journey, and hopefully we’ll both be able to check a few more off our lists soon!