Taylor Witter ’16 found her college major before she knew what she was looking for.
Witter started working at her local park district at the age of 16. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, and I was talking to my supervisor about my interests,” Witter said. “He told me that his degree was in recreation. That was the first moment that I knew that recreation and park administration (RPA) was a major, and it turns out that I was already working in the field.”
Witter was no stranger to campus. Her two older sisters both went to Illinois State University, so she had been visiting Normal since the age of 12. “My family had already created so many memories and traditions at ISU, so it was an easy decision for me. We also already had a lot of Redbird gear.”
As a student, Witter hit the ground running. She was involved in honors societies, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.95 GPA, was treasurer for the Parks and Recreation Society, and received multiple scholarships through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). She also assisted a professor for an independent study, where she wrote a 16-page literature review analyzing the similarities and differences between leaders and managers. This project was later presented at NRPA’s annual conference in 2015.
Currently, Witter serves as the recreation facilities manager at the Lisle Park District. Recently, she received the honor of being named one of NRPA’s Young Professional Network 30 Under 30. This honor recognizes 30 young professionals across the nation who are making a significant impact in their community. More than 100 nominations from 15 states were scored on the following criteria: Impact on the agency’s community and service population, contributions to the professional development of the field of parks and recreation, and innovative ideas, programs, or research in the field of parks and recreation. This is the third year that the honor has been awarded, as it was first created in 2021.
“The best part of my job is knowing how the work and efforts I put in daily are enriching people’s lives,” said Witter. “Recreation is something that people choose to do. Whether it is a toddler taking swim lessons for the first time, or a senior working out in the fitness center, people in my community are attending programs, facilities, and events because they want to, not because they must. Recreation is hidden in so many aspects of people’s hobbies and interests, and knowing that I am providing those opportunities and can be creative and innovative is something that I love.”
Witter points to the television show Parks and Recreation as a cultural touchstone that shined a light on her field of choice. “A lot of people did not realize that parks and recreation is an industry until the show came out, but when you analyze the activities you have been involved in throughout your life, you might notice that a lot of those opportunities came from park districts. I participated in a before and after school program because both of my parents worked full time and it was an essential service for my family. I was involved in soccer, swimming, cross country, and track growing up.”
“In addition, watching Leslie Knope’s work ethic on the show would inspire anyone to do their best in their field, let alone the same field as my major,” Witter said.
When asked what advice she would give to someone considering a major in RPA, Witter encourages them to put themselves in the equation. “Normally when you’re making a big decision, you’re told to take a step back and analyze from the outside looking in. My advice is to turn inwards. When I think about my recreational life, I think about how I love going to the gym, painting, and going to music concerts with my family. By visualizing what I enjoy doing and the wide variety of offerings in our field, this tactic helps motivate me to enjoy my time at work, put in extra efforts to create experiences that I personally would enjoy, and remember that this field is much more impactful than you initially realize.
“Our field truly helps the community’s mental, physical, social, and emotional health. That is what makes our field so unique. Plus, when you’re implementing the programs and events, you have the opportunity to partake and facilitate these opportunities, which literally means you are already doing what you love.”
Interested in learning more about the School of Kinesiology and Recreation? Visit their website.
