| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I have a collection of very vivid childhood memories.
I used to live in the mountains next to a stream and a forest. I spent many days wandering between trees, and scrambling up rocks. My friends and I would roll stones into the stream to make a pool where we could bathe and catch small crayfish. A massive boulder stood in its corner. We would stand there and treat it like our pirate ship. Storms would come and leave the river unrecognizable but the boulder never moved. Some days we would lean over its edge and drop seed pods into the flow below, letting them race away.
I would go to a beach near our house and snorkel for hours. I remember a sunset filtering through the clear water and illuminating a bait ball pinned against the shallow of the shore. Their numbers disappeared into a haze as far as I could see. I remember swimming at them again, and again, and watching as the collective moved around me, darting forever out of reach. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I love my cousin to pieces. She's a scarf-knitting, tea-brewing, Oxford-educated English teacher and acts 60 years older than her actual age. She has forever been someone I can confide my most intimate feelings. She pushes me to believe in myself. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I really admire a strong sense of curiosity. Curiosity drives us to be knowledge-loving, and innovative. It helps us find the small truths and novelty in the day to day. Hard work is admirable, but clever work can be stunning. Solutions, where someone dared daydream a better approach, will always keep me inspired. I would credit my curiosity with getting jobs at big tech companies before 25, and it’s a trait I see in all of my idols. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I love my pets. I think the funniest thing ever was when Daisy, the family dog, discovered she could sit on my shoulders in the water instead of swimming. When we snorkel, she regally stands tall with front paws on my upper shoulders, and her back paws on my back as I slowly move along. My current rescue kitten, Laser, is forever a source of surprise and joy. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | Trick question! Going to Mars on an unlimited budget, would help humanity advance space exploration.
Scientific innovations aside, I've been to around 32 countries and I'm always trying to find ways to make that number grow. I love exploring. Next on my list is the Dalmatian Coast and the Greek Isles. However, I always want to return home to the Caribbean. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would love for my children to inherit my sense of adventure. I'm lucky to have a family that is supportive of all my shenanigans and have fostered my sense of exploration. I dream of one day having a family that will go hiking and traveling with me.
I would also appreciate someone who also runs long distances! A running buddy is always welcome. |
