Essay Questions

What is your most memorable childhood experience?I hiked halfway down into the Grand Canyon on a cross-country road trip with my mother. We saw so much on that trip, but the views of the canyon were breathtaking. We were avid hikers, so we didn't get all that winded, even on the hike back out.
What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why?Likely, it’s my father that I most identify with. We recently reconnected and, while there was a lot to unpack, I'm very glad we're talking. Family may be complicated, but to a reasonable extent, that connection matters.
What character traits do you admire in an individual?I admire intellect, creativity, and hope. Being intelligent truly enables you to solve most challenges facing you every day. Meanwhile, a creative touch gives your life a little color. Now hope ... it's a cornerstone and a curse, but think of all there is to see and do in your time here. Don't give up. Ever.
What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you?Honestly, I’m a fairly goofy person by nature so funny things tend to happen a lot. A relatively recent one would be during a game night with my then fiancé, now wife, and a few friends from work. We were playing a card game called “Incoherent,” and in trying to sound out the phrase “too much information,“ we all busted up laughing because I basically ended up saying it with an unreasonably thick accent. Not long after that, during a game that was basically Pictionary on steroids, I guessed the word “hull“ based on ship-related clues. My friend Chris asked, “Are you saying hull or hole?” I pause for a moment, confirm HULL … To which he responds, “Great, the word is 'captain,' dumbass.“ Again, we laughed till we were gasping.
If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why?It’s not so much a “where,” as it would be EVERYWHERE. If time and money were not an issue, I simply would not stop traveling. I love it. Experiencing new things, listening to new people, amazing foods … living the mosaic poetry of the world.
When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them?When my wife and I do eventually decide to have children, going back to an earlier question, I think I want to impart not only an undying hope but also a strong curiosity about everything. I pride myself, somewhat paradoxically, on the fact that I get into a wide range of interests without necessarily permeating too deeply into any given one. A wide range of knowledge. I think that is what I want most to impart to our children.