| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | One summer my sister and I rescued a kitten abandoned in a box. We gave her our own food and water then begged mom to let us take her home. Mom hesitated initially but allowed it after I promised I would take care of her by myself. She grew into a friendly cat who would greet me when I got off the school bus, come to me whenever I played outside, and even leave “gifts” of captured prey (mom did not appreciate such gifts!). She lived through my entire childhood and died just a couple of weeks after I left for college. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify most with my mother. She gave her all to the family raising us as a single mom, and I’m inspired by her style of family leadership and unwavering dedication. She had an intense focus on character. Cheating on a test would have disappointed her much more than failing a test. She was patient and kind but had clear expectations. She is highly imaginative and playful when interacting with young children. I try to emulate her when leading my own family. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | Integrity, diligence, and gratitude come to mind, but I particularly admire courage. It’s an uncommon and valuable virtue. Courage most obviously includes fearlessness in the face of bodily danger, such as the soldiers who stormed Normandy. There is something deeply moving and inspiring about such acts of bravery. But to me courage also includes the conviction to stick to your beliefs in the face of shunning or ridicule. I admire courageous thinkers who are bold enough to challenge society’s norms. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I love learning languages, but as any learner can tell you, you are bound to make some embarrassing mistakes. One time I was playing cards with my in-laws who only speak Chinese. After losing many rounds, I finally won a game and excitedly announced my victory. Now, Chinese is a tonal language, the meaning of a word can completely change depending on the tone of your voice. After I proudly exclaimed “Wo ying le! [I won!]” with a rising tone, there was an awkward silence and then laughter. It turns out, I was supposed to have used a falling tone. I had actually told my in-laws “I got hard!” My wife still makes fun of me for it years later! |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would retrace the steps of my favorite explorer and ski to the South Pole! It has everything required for a grand adventure, the beauty of the great outdoors, a physical challenge for the body, a logistics challenge for the mind, and just enough danger to keep things interesting. I would also invite family and friends. It would be a great bonding experience we’d never forget. After a long day of skiing, I can imagine us huddled around a warm fire, eating a hearty meal, and laughing at the day’s mishaps. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I hope to pass on a love of learning and fitness. I don’t just hope for it, I actively strive for it. Every day after work, I take them outside to play, which encourages empathy, imagination, and physical activity. Then just before dinner, I will give them a math challenge such as counting, a logic game, or reading numbers from flash cards. After completion they earn a prize such as a sticker, candy, or hair clip. My daughter loves math so much now that she asks for math challenges unprompted! Before bed we also have story time, to help nurture a lifetime habit of reading and learning. |
