| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | The first family vacation that I remember - a week-long trip to the beach that involved twelve hours in the car each way - is still one of my favorite childhood memories. My brother, sister, and I were old enough to be somewhat independent and we spent the entire drive and week on the beach telling jokes, playing games, and otherwise having a wonderful time. Now that my sister has two children of her own, we're all planning to go back next year and try to recapture some of the magic from that trip. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | Despite wildly different career paths and lifestyles, I see more of myself in my brother. We share a sardonic wit, passion for the environment and outdoors, and a commitment to public education. Though I enjoy all of my family members' company, I spend much of the year looking forward to reuniting with my brother over the holidays. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | The three traits I admire most in an individual are those best-exemplified by my father: empathy, ambition, and selflessness. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | During a trip to New York with some friends, we decided to attend an Upright Citizens Brigade improv session (this was in the mid-2000s). It just so happened that Tina Fey was making a guest appearance that evening (though this was before she became quite so famous). She and her troupe killed it that night and she essentially ruined improv for me after that. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | If time and money were not an issue, I would spend a year traveling through the former Bloc nations of Eastern Europe. The Bloc nations - especially Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Bosnia - possess an incredibly rich blend of history, war-torn landscapes, vibrant and growing cities, and unique cultural identity. If I could, I would spend my time getting to know those places - and their people - better. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | If and when I have children, I hope to give them what my parents gave me: love, unwavering support, and the freedom and ability to build a life of my own choosing. |
