| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | For better or for worse, one of my most memorable childhood experiences was of almost drowning at around 7 or 8. For reasons I don't remember, I had decided to go swimming all alone on an empty beach. At that age I was a comfortable swimmer, so I thought it'd be a fun idea to swim far out from shore. It wasn't. Ultimately, I couldn't swim back against the riptide. I don't know how long I swam towards the beach not getting any closer, but it must have been an hour or more. Eventually a man came to the beach, saw me, and ultimately saved me. If he hadn't shown up, I might not be around. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I most closely identify with my father. Not once growing up did he try and dictate my interests, influence my religious beliefs, or reign in my dreams and ambitions. He acted as a guide. This is the way I approach my relationships - It brings out the best in people. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | Individualism and indomitability. The drive to cut one's own path, despite the opinions of others. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | This is 'a' funny thing instead of the funniest, because that's really hard to say. I was visiting a friend's house during college where his parents were throwing a fancy, catered, black tie event. After taking a shower in their guesthouse across the lawn, I couldn't locate my clothes... they'd been deliberately misplaced by one of my "friends". I eventually found myself padding barefoot through the thick of crowded soiree, red-cheeked and holding together a too small towel, nodding to guests while they blankly stared at the spectacle. To make matters worse, while I don't think the band had stopped playing on my account, I had somehow chosen the period between songs to make my way through the crowd. The silence punctuated the whole bizarre scene. How I got my buddy back is a whole different story. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | If danger were also not an issue, I'd like to visit the ruins in regions like Syria, Iraq, Libya where they are not being protected or are actively being destroyed. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | In addition to the two traits I mentioned above, I'd like to pass a sense of responsibility on to them. I don't think I'll be the type to tell my kids "I just want you to be happy." Of course I do want them to be happy, but I think it's the things you do and what you leave behind that define a life well lived. 'Happiness' should come as a bi-product of giving back. |
