| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I remember vividly my first trip to Guatemala with my grandparents. I had just started my summer break and remember being excited to travel by plane for the first time. The trip was great because I met family members I had only heard of in my grandma's stories. I got to see the home where my mom and uncles grew up, and travel to amazing places in the country. This has to be the most memorable experience I had as a child. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | Without a doubt, the person I most identify with is my grandfather. Growing up, I always saw him as this person larger than life; he was my hero and role model. At age seven, I had the opportunity to travel with my grandparents to Guatemala, where they are originally from, and I saw how people respected and admired my grandfather. This made me see him through a different lens and understand his view of community and service. As an adult I was able to see him from a different perspective; a more human and relatable one that made me understand how similar we both were. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire empathy, honor, loyalty, hard work, patient, persistent, and optimistic. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I was visiting my wife's hometown for the first time and met my sister-in-law’s boyfriend. The guy is a character. He decided that the best way to introduce me to the place was to slide down this mound of dirt on a four person “sled” he made. After a shot of bravery I decided that I would follow this grand idea. We did not notice that there was a small bump of dirt at the bottom of this ride. We ended up flying through the air, each in a different direction. That was funny and dumb. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | My dream is to live for a few years in East Asia. I would travel and immerse myself in the culture, eat my way through each country, and meet new friends. Most of my time I would spend in Japan and Korea because I admire how these countries balance tradition and modern society. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | Life is short, so every moment needs to be enjoyed. Stop thinking of the future or dwelling on the past, the only thing that is real is NOW. |
