| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | The most memorable was probably when I was about eight years old. I had only played flag football for a few years, and this was my first time playing tackle football. I was the quarterback, and I was running the ball on a quarterback sweep to the right side. I was hit in my ankle, it hurt and I started to cry. While I was sitting on the bench with some ice and crying, my dad came to talk to me. He pretty much told me to toughen up and go help my team win. Instantly it seemed as though my ankle didn't hurt anymore. I don't know why, but I guess I wanted to make him proud of me, so I went back and played. That was the last time he ever saw me play any type of sport; he and my mom split and I hardly saw him after that. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | My older male cousin. He was the big brother I never had. He was eight years older than me and I wanted to be just like him. I used to watch him play football in high school when I was younger. He played defensive back. So when I was told I was too small to play quarterback in junior high, I switched to defensive back and running back, just like my cousin. I also got my hair cut just like him, so he was the positive influence/father figure when I was younger. Weird I say brother I never had, because I didn't find out I had an older brother until I was an adult. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | The ability to smile with ease. Don't take life so seriously! I'm the type of guy that always has a smile on my face and a positive outlook on life, even when things are bad or not going my way. I believe in sports, if you're not having fun playing a game, then don't play.
Humility – If you are good at something, everyone around you already knows. The star player on a sports team for example. The team, coach, and fans all know who the best player is because you can watch the game and tell, but that doesn't mean you have to belittle the worst player. Encourage them instead.
Friendliness – Being approachable is a blessing for strangers and a comfort to friends. Treating others how you want to be treated. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I was at a track meet in 7th grade doing the long jump. As I was running to jump in the pit, I stumbled and rolled right in the pit! All I could do was laugh. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | Honestly, I could not name one specific location I would want to go. Instead, since money is not an issue, I would travel to as many countries as I can. I would like to see how other cultures live in their everyday life, and take in as many different world experiences as I can. To me, meeting new people is always a pleasure. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I currently have a child and he is three years old. To him I want to provide the love from a father that I never had, and I just want him to know that I will always be there for him not matter what! To teach him how to conduct himself as a respectable young man and later as a man. |
