Why you should know him: Orlando's future is in his hands.
Most recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of coming up with the questions fifteen minutes before an interview. Part of me likes this because I feel the exchange is organic and off the cuff. The other part wishes for more time to prepare and becomes anxious that I didn’t. In the case of interviewing the mayor, I felt the latter.
Who he is: A Reverend, a medium, a healer, and former pastor and music director of the Spiritualist Church of Cassadaga.
Why you should know him: He may offer you insight.
Have you ever looked around your workplace or classroom and thought, “Who are these people? And how do I fit in here?” One of the finest things to come from my Rollins College experience is exactly this: I was forced to surround myself with people I may not have associated with normally. That’s how I met the infamous Reverend Ben Cox—we have sat next to each other in class for the past four years.
In May, Ben and I will both graduate from Rollins with a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies. Other than this commonality, we might as well be from different planets.
Why you should know him: We live in a state of gators; he can wrestle them.
Gatorland is not only an essential landmark to our Orlando community, but it is where I discovered my first phobia ever—alligators. So there I was with my Brownie troop, a gaggle of six and seven year-old want-to-be girl-scouts. The Gator Jumparoo show had begun and fleshy, flailing, balls of pink meat, also known as dead chickens, were strung out on a wire over a pond of hungry alligators. As the gators began to circle their dinners, I stood still in anticipation. The other girls jumped up-and-down carelessly in excitement. I was in awe of their bravery.
Why you should know him: He's trying to change the World, and yes, one person can make a difference.
Why you should know her: She's always got news.
I met Cynthia Demos immediately after I moved into the downtown area. We were hitting up the same circuit of events, like an art show here, a restaurant opening there. Eventually, we were introduced.
“You know, she works for Channel 9,” my friend said. I didn’t know and I’m sure my face showed it. I don’t watch the news. “She’s an anchor,” my friend continued. This was said as if I had been the only person to not recognize this woman, ever. I felt like an awful human being but it was hard for me to imagine Cynthia as a news anchor. She seemed so fun, young and … well, everything I imagined a newsanchor not to be.
Why you should know him: You might wake up one day and realize you need help learning how to walk again.
Craig Moore is a physical therapist at Florida Hospital Rehab center. Nearly eight years ago, our paths crossed when he was assigned to me as my rehab therapist. During one particular session, I remember conjuring up a proposal that a trip to Popeye’s for some fried chicken was probably the best therapy because (1) I was hungry and how could he expect me to function with such hunger pangs? And (2), we could test my ‘Real Life Skills,’ after all, I’d be crossing the road, exchanging currency and assessing the wheelchair-friendliness of a restaurant. Immediately Craig laughed, then he paused for a long time. He asked me if I was serious and then paused one more time before finally caving-in to my idea. He was used to methodically teaching from text books, while I was convinced those text books were not written for me. You can imagine our daily trials and tribulations but I think that’s what kept therapy interesting.