Irma Lima ’00 ’11MEd
Tell us a little about yourself!
I am a proud wife, mother of two adult children, and grandmother who has called Florida home for over 30 years. As a Puerto Rican, I love returning to the island to enjoy family, food, culture, and one of my favorite hobbies—collecting sea glass along its beautiful shores. I am also a teacher and am passionate about inspiring the love of reading in children. Snurkey: A Turkey’s Wish has opened a new world of opportunities to share that passion through a heartwarming story that encourages readers to be happy with who they are.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
As a teacher I have had a lot of students that did not like to read. I was the same as a child so I promised my students that one day I would write a story to encourage the love of reading.
What’s your writing process? What inspires your writing?
What inspires my writing is my own personal experiences and ideas that inspire me in other books. For example, I love parties and most times I have photo booths where you can see in my Snurkey book.
What was the biggest thing you learned during your time as a Knight that you apply to your life today?
In graduating from the teaching program, I learned all students can learn, we just need to give them our best.
What was a class or club at UCF that helped you grow as a writer?
In attending a multicultural class in the Teacher Leadership Multicultural Masters program, they had me do a project that had us go out in the community and write about our experiences.
Who are some of your favorite authors or books?
Since my life revolves around my students and my own children, I like books like The Hunger Games, and any old classic stories for children.
If UCF had a time machine, what moment on campus would you go back to?
As a child I did not like to read. In my undergraduate program I had an instructor read a children’s book in a way that opened my eyes to another world. This inspired my love of reading and I shared it with my own children as well as my students. I would love to thank the teacher.
If your UCF experience were a meme, what would it be?
With all the writing I had done at UCF, I would be a meme showing a college student sitting at a desk buried under a mountain of papers, typing furiously on a laptop, with tired eyes, messy hair, and a giant cup of coffee keeping me alive. 😂
What are you currently working on right now?
I am currently working on a children’s book about a child learning to accept their culture and heritage.
