| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | My most memorable childhood experience was when we used to live in the forest. I would wake up every day with no worries and meet up with my neighbor to play in the woods. We would pretend to be wizards, rock climbers, and anything else our brains could imagine. The forest provided an opportunity for us to be kids in an environment with plenty of things to do, with deers to chase, mushrooms to pop, and trees to climb. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I closely identify with my father due to his strong intellectual abilities. His responsibility has shown in me as I've started to grow up, and it's one of the skills that I have learned to really appreciate. I always looked up to him as a role model, as he would balance his professional and personal life well. I strive to be like him every day. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire when someone has patience, drive, and respect for others. I admire people who show up no matter what, especially when it would be easier to make excuses or disappear when things get uncomfortable. I respect the kind of drive that pushes someone to raise their own standards instead of competing with others. It stands out to me when someone treats everyone with respect, not just those who can offer them something in return. The mix of discipline, ambition, and humility is the mix of traits that I value most in a person. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | One time last summer, I was filling up a jet ski on the lake with gasoline. I was leaning over the jet ski with the gas tube pointing down into the tank, and as I pulled it out, the tube flicked out of the tank and splattered gas into my eyes and over my face. Without thinking, I jumped into the lake to try to wash my eyes out with my phone, wallet, and keys in my pocket. My friends were dying of laughter on the dock next to me, and while it was painful at the time, it's funny to think back on. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would love to travel to Europe, first for the food. The few times that I've been to France have been some of the best tasting experiences of my life, even just baguettes at the grocery store. Next, I would love to hike through the beautiful views that the continent provides. Finally, I would ski in the French Alps, and if money were not a consideration, I would try skiing with a helicopter that drops you off where chair lifts can't. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | If I were to ever have children, I would want to pass on my resilience so that they learn to follow through no matter what the circumstances. I would want them to value integrity so they mean what they say, and I would want them to develop curiosity to think for themselves. Most of all, I would want them to have respect for others. |
