| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | Ever since I was a little kid, I was very good at climbing things. When I was 6, my family went hiking up a rocky Colorado mountain one time. They lost me and didn't know where I had gone. I was waiting patiently at the peak of the mountain for a while before they realized I was far ahead of everyone. I had taken a shortcut and climbed several boulders by myself. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I closely identify with my father, because we share a similar skill of problem solving. My dad went to school to be an engineer, but when he married my mom and moved to her hometown, there were no engineering jobs for him there. Now, I am picking up the reigns and going to school to be an engineer, and I think that we share that same ambition to build things and solve hard problems. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | The things I admire most about people are perseverance and empathy. I think the ability to push through hard times is one of the most important skills a person can have. Additionally, the ability to see people going through hard times and jumping right in the boat with them is the true definition of a good friend. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | One time at a youth summer camp of 300 kids, they were asking for a volunteer to tell jokes at the closing ceremony. There would be hundreds of kids and parents, including the state governor. Somehow, through a few rounds of pitches I was picked as the lucky one to give the speech. I was so nervous the night before that I didn't sleep, but I killed it and had the whole audience laughing from jokes I made up. I thought it was pretty funny because I'm not usually that outgoing, and my parents were shell-shocked when they saw me on the stage doing my comedy routine. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would love to travel to different tropical islands around the world. There is so much wildlife diversity among these small islands, and I would love to study the ecosystems. I love photography, and I would be in heaven if I was plopped on a small tropical island and given 12 months to document every species I could find there. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would like to pass onto them the ability to make a network of truly supportive friends. While skills and natural talent can take you pretty far, life will always go through ups and downs, and it's really important to have people you can rely on. Additionally, being a voice of reason/support for friends who are in need builds so much empathy and understanding that really transcends every aspect of your life, making you a better person overall. |
