| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I would say the first time I won a really big chess tournament. I was nine at the time. I had done poorly early in the tournament but had come back strong and won many games in a row. In the last game of the tournament I was one point behind the leader. If I was to win I would tie for first. I did end up wining after a game that was about five hours long. I was so happy I cried! |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I very closely identify with my mother. My mom is awesome. She is a doctor. People come to her with problems and she tries to fix them. They don't feel good and she tries to make them better. I'm a scientist. I try to look at problems, often biomedical problems, and come up with solutions. I try to better understand biology with the intention of helping people and curing diseases. I think we have very similar goals, but we have different strengths, so we do different things. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire honesty, loyalty, and compassion. I admire people who understand their blessings and leverage their strengths to help others. I admire people who work hard and do good work. I admire people who are intelligent and creative. I admire people who are principled and disciplined. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I can't actually remember exactly. I was on the stairs talking to one of my brothers. I can't remember what we were talking about. But it was hilarious. It is the only time I remember that I've laughed so hard that I had to go to the bathroom. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | This is a really good question! I have been a lot of places already - Asia, Europe, and the Middle East... If I had to choose someplace now, I think I would go to Africa. I would choose Africa because I feel like there are a lot of people there I could help. I've also never been to Africa, and I know it would present an interesting challenge. Additionally, there are lots of things in Africa I'd like to see! I have been told that Morocco is a beautiful country with beautiful people. I'd like to see the savanna and the wildlife it has to offer. It would also be cool to go to Egypt and see the pyramids. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would like them to be kind, and for them to understand that being compassionate is one of the most important things you can be as a person. I'd want them to be curious, to critically analyze their surroundings, and to ask questions. I'd want them to be happy and to try to make other people around them happy. I would also like them to understand that life has no users' guide, and I hope I could encourage them to be their own person and listen to their inner voice. Lastly, I'd want them to be aware of all the possibilities life has to offer, and I'd hope they would explore those possibilities to the best of their ability. |
