| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | It is hard to pick just one experience but here it goes. My family would routinely take a one week vacation every summer to a lake in the mountains. Growing up, I always loved this trip and looked forward to it each year. The combination of quality family time, cooking/eating great meals, being active on the lake, and living care-free has made for some awesome memories. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | My mother. She's a huge inspiration to me. She's stayed physically and emotionally healthy through the loss of my father (and then both of her parents) and managed to raise my brother and myself to be successful adults. She knows how to make the best of bad situations which is an awesome power. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire people who aren't afraid to express their emotions. Those that break the "social norm" and express their true selves. I think it is important also to be generous, considerate, and caring of others. I believe it is difficult to be completely selfless; however, if selfishness and greed are dominant qualities, I think you will not build any valuable relationships. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I don't have a readily accessible answer to this one. After some thought I remembered a time I was visiting with a friend for the weekend. The day we were suppose to return home, upon opening my car, the key broke in half! In a fit of shock and hilarity we ended up extending our stay to sort out the key situation. The improvisation of the trip actually turned out to be pretty fun and exciting. We did get it sorted out the next day and still made it back in time for class. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | There isn't one single place. There are many corners of the world I'd love to visit. Japan, Germany, and Spain being some of the frontrunners. My favorite place I've been so far is Costa Rica - I can see myself retiring there in the future or at least living there for a short period of time. I love the climate and the people. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | Physically speaking - I have no preference. As for personality traits - I would love to pass on to them intellectual and analytical tendencies, creativity and curiosity, generosity and compassion, and love of nature and staying active. |
