| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | My most memorable childhood experience happened during a family vacation to Disney World when I was 9 years old. The morning we got there, we decided to stop by McDonalds for breakfast. As my parents were ordering, my older brother and I set off to play on the jungle gym. We rarely followed the rules so when my brother challenged me to a race on top of the jungle gym, I was quick to accept. Minutes later I found myself on the floor in agony. I had just fallen roughly 25 feet, my left foot landing on a pipe. Although I broke a small bone in my foot and ended up needing a wheelchair, being able to skip all the lines at Disney World turned a what could have been a bad experience into a great one. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I don’t believe I can fully relate to any single person. With my father, I identify with his kindness; my mother, her intellect; my sister, her tenacity; my older brother, his rationality; and my younger brother, his liveliness. I’d like to think I have a little piece of all of them. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I’ve always admired people who display a strong sense of integrity as I believe honesty and morality are fundamental principles that everyone should adhere to. I also respect a hard work ethic and an acute desire and ability to always learn and be curious. Finally, a list of character traits without compassion or empathy would be incomplete. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | When I was in college, I lived in a neighborhood near the university athletic building along with a few other student athletes. One particular night, I was hanging out with my girlfriend when she noticed the pull up bar mounted within my bedroom door frame. Knowing my competitive side, she dared me to do 20 pull ups right then and there. After I did 25, I thought that was the end of it. Unbeknownst to me, the cheerleaders next door, whose living room window directly faced my bedroom, were having an initiation of sorts with their entire team. It wasn’t until the next day that I realized that they all saw me. They still call me “Naked Pull Up Guy” to this very day. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | If time and money weren’t an issue, I’d love to travel to Japan. I’ve always been intrigued by their culture, art, and architecture. I would enjoy having authentic Japanese cuisine and exploring local spots as well as finding hidden treasures. I would also relish the opportunity to learn more about their ancient history, beliefs, and spirituality. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | Leaving a strong legacy to my children will be very important to me. Teaching them how to enjoy the little things in life, to care for others less fortunate or different from them, and most importantly, to be happy and live life to the fullest would be what I would like to pass on to them. Additionally, I would like to teach them how to love themselves, challenge ideas, and to always be curious and learning. |
