| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | While perhaps not the most sunny of memories, I think the most memorable experience was nearly drowning when I was in 6th grade. My family had gone to Mexico for a vacation, and my dad, one of my brothers, and I went swimming in the Gulf. We got pulled out by an undertow and had to be rescued by the lifeguards in kayaks. I am now a bit more wary of open water, though I do still enjoy swimming. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I most closely identify with my father. He and I are alike in many ways. We tend to be very reserved and restrained. We try to find logical and rational explanations for everything we come across. My father is extremely generous to those around him, though, and I admire how much time, effort, and money he donates to help people. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I find empathy and kindness to be of the utmost importance. Intelligence and education don't matter much if you're not a nice person. Too many gifted people use their talents for personal gain, and I much prefer those who dedicate themselves to giving back to society and trying to make the world a better place. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | When I was around 14 years old, a friend and I were helping my mom with some yard work. We were shoveling raked leaves into garbage bags. I was holding the bag, while my friend was shoveling the leaves. At one point, the shovel got stuck in the bag, and as my friend tried to get it free, he yanked upwards. The bag ripped, and the shovel proceeded to hit me square in the face. While it did hurt, I immediately started laughing, because I realized that I had just been hit in the face with a shovel, which is really the sort of thing you usually only see in cartoons. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I love traveling to Europe. I have been to many European countries already, but I want to explore more of Iceland, Scotland, and Scandinavia. I love the landscapes and cultures. With enough time and money, hopefully I would be able to become more fluent in those languages as well. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would like foremost for them to be happy and to be good people. I think it is important for them to know that everyone, regardless of social status, deserves respect, and that everyone has the potential to make the world a better place, even if it is in small ways. |
