| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | There are too many to recall! If I had to choose, it would be hitting my first home run in tee-ball when I was five or six years old. I was the last at bat for the game and I remember not enjoying the game up to that point. I didn't want to get up to bat, but thanks to some encouragement from coaches and my parents, I stepped up to the plate. My swing connected with the stationary baseball and somehow, I was able to send the ball over the netting set up probably about 100 feet from the tee. An out-of-the-park home run! After the game I was quoted as saying "You just have to give it 100% effort and swing the bat." Decades later, I'm pretty sure that this moment was my athletic peak. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I most closely identify with my father. He and I have a lot of differences, but the values he instilled in me make me the person I am today. He is the perfect picture of modern masculinity: a provider with a successful, value-adding career but always able to make his family feel loved and supported. He’s also very much a do-it-yourself kind of guy, and always wanted me by his side when he was building or fixing something. I didn’t always like to spend my Saturday afternoons changing motor oil or building decks, but now I’m thankful for everything he taught me. He’s gone so far out of his way to set my sister and I up for success, and for that I’m truly grateful. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I think joy, kindness, responsibility, and esteem are the four pillars that lead to a successful and happy life. Joy is the ability to find and create happiness and positive energy from any situation, which attracts people and results in deep interpersonal relationships. I believe it is important to take care of fellow humans, both physically and mentally. An admirable individual is kind enough to meet the needs of those close to them. An admirable individual also is responsible enough to admit their shortcomings and seek to better them. Lastly, admirable individuals have esteem, both toward themselves and others. They seek to see the best in everyone and are always willing to give people a chance. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I was playing an intramural ultimate frisbee game in high school, which happened to be scheduled just five minutes after my last class of the day was released. I was wearing jeans in class and didn’t have time to change before the game. The jeans were a hinderance all game, but we were able to keep it close until the very end. The game was tied, and we were on a possession that would win the game for us if we scored. As I jumped for a pass at about midfield, my jeans ripped cleanly down the middle. My adrenaline was so high that I didn’t even realize as we continued our possession to score the winning point. I played the rest of that possession (probably another minute or two) basically with only shreds of pants on. Fortunately, I had worn my lucky boxers that day because everyone on the field saw them and we were able to score on that possession and win the game! Everyone was laughing as we celebrated, and I realized exactly what had happened. That’s a memory I will cherish forever. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | The place I most want to visit is Hawaii. I would love to explore island life and experience a truly unique combination of indigenous and American culture. Plus, I love sushi and I have heard that Hawaii has some of the best sushi in the world! |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | When I have children, I hope to pass on all the love and opportunity that my parents provided me. It’s important to provide these things as a foundation for kids, but I also want to add an appreciation for generosity. My parents were generous when needed but didn’t live an overall generous lifestyle like I want to lead myself and exhibit for my future children. Giving with pure intentions is some of the most fun you can have with time and money, so I want them to see that early and often. |
