| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I used to love it so much when my mom took me to the Air Force Base. We would watch the Blue Angels fly across the sky and some of the pilots would even let me get inside to sit down while the plane was parked. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I would say I identify with my mother the most because she has always been there for me through thick and thin. She is caring, selfless, independent, and strong. Everything that I am is because of her. My mother is a pillar in my life and will do absolutely anything for me and my children to the best of her ability. I strive to be a great parent like she was to me by encouraging my children daily and demonstrating love for their interests and for who they are as people. That unconditional love made me feel like I could be anything and do anything I put my mind to. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | Being compassionate is a hallmark of a good person. Compassion is kindness in action, to see someone in pain, and wanting to help them alleviate it. Everybody is going through their own private battle, and there is almost always more to what’s going on with someone than what meets the eye. We all should exercise more compassion towards each other daily. Compassion Helps us to connect with others, mend relationships, and you don't have to like or agree with everything someone does, but when you treat others with compassion, they are likely to treat you back in kind. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | The funniest thing just happened to me in my firehouse. My coworkers know I don’t like to share my nachos. They put a “One Chip Challenge” chip in the bag. After one bite, I knew it was over for my stomach. I swallowed half of it, and it messed me up. I can laugh about it now, but I was so mad at first. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | If money wasn’t an issue, I’d try to figure out a way to make feeding billions of people more sustainable. I’d help educate those who don’t have access to wealth and education. I strongly believe that the world’s greatest problem is that most people are not using their full potential and doing what they love. Apart from that, I’m pretty content with my life now. Exploring different countries and enjoying different cultures and nature, while in the process doing charitable work along the way to help the less fortunate. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | Be thankful and say it as many times as you can. You have so many reasons to show gratitude. For who you are first, and for what you have and what you own. Never stop learning, reading, traveling. Any chance you have to meet new people, different than you, do it! Be curious about other’s cultures, habits, languages, traditions, ways of thinking. Especially if they are completely different from yours. It’s the best way to learn, grow, and build your own personality. Always be yourself. Don’t copy others, don’t blindly follow. Never be afraid to ask, raise questions, even the ones you may qualify as “stupid.” Don’t try to people please. Follow your heart and your passions even if that means saying no, having to make difficult choices or surrounding yourself with different people. |
