| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | Growing up my grandparents owned a cabin by a lake. It was the center point for my extended family to come together. During the summers our families would gather for boat rides, camp fires, and time with one another. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify with my mother the most in my immediate family. The grace and strength that she shows in dealing with others is something I strive to emulate. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | The characteristics that I admire are integrity and humility. When someone is able to be grounded in their personal morals, they are often reliable and self-actualized. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | When living abroad I would often find myself in cultural predicaments. In one situation, I was chatting with a group of students. During the conversation I was trying to convey the importance of heart health. When speaking a foreign language I would often mispronounce words. In this instance, I accidentally was speaking about the importance of "dog health". This led to a year of community members pointing to their chest and barking. This was an embarrassing moment that led to a running joke for almost a year. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | After traveling continuously for a while, there has been a pull to the Te Araroa. It is a thru-hike in New Zealand that traverses across both the north and south island. The prospects of experiencing the beauty of both the mountains and beaches are exciting. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | To have a child in the world is something that creates wonder. This child is biologically my own but also is so much loved by their family. I am the donor that helped their family, but I am just that. I am a biological relative, but not their parent. The advice I would give is to know how much your family loves you. They went through so much just to get you into this world. The answer to where you come from is there with you now. I can tell you what my likes, dislikes, heritage, family upbringing, and life experiences are, but they do not tell you who you are. You are defined by the family who loves you and the decisions you make that form you. |
