| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I remember going to my grandparents' house in the country in the summer. My brothers and sister used to go hiking and exploring in the woods, finding new areas and different kinds of animals. There were also fossils in some of the rocks, and we used to crack lots of rocks open to find them. One time my brother cracked a rock and there was a giant snail shell inside the size of my hand. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify with both of my parents. Growing up I took for granted all of their sacrifices but, as I have gotten older, I really appreciate what they did. I recently finished my PhD, and it made me realize how crazy it is that my mother did that too while raising four kids, while I could barely do it alone, and she was still such a great mother. I also came to appreciate how much my father had to do when my mom was working so hard, and I wish I was more grateful to him at the time. I hope I can live up to their example one day. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | Some character traits I admire in people are compassion, open mindedness, honesty, and being able to laugh at yourself. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | It's hard to think of one specific thing as the funniest thing that has happened to me. One thing I remember is walking backwards on a dock and falling in the water while visiting a lake. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I have been reading recently about philosophers in ancient Greece, and that has me thinking it would be interesting to visit there and see places like the Parthenon. I also have relatives I have never met in Ireland, and it would be nice to visit them sometime. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | The main thing would be for them to find happiness and be good people. I would hope to share my interests with them to help them find something that excites them to learn about as well. |
