| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I vividly remember my mother home-schooling me before fourth grade. She was determined to give me the best education possible and would spend hours teaching me relatively advanced math and science. She was extremely patient with all the questions I would ask her, even when she didn't have the answers. If I passed all her oral exams, my father would then agree to play the first Spiderman game on the PlayStation 1 with me. Despite it being just a game, he would consistently compete against me, using the pain of defeat to drive me to improve. It wouldn't be until my teenage years that I would experience the bittersweet moment of victory against my dad. As a result of their outstanding tutelage, the mentality of "Work Hard, Play Hard" was engraved in my personality. This inspired my ambition in my professional career to go into educational leadership and my drive for success in hobbies like competitive online games. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | My mom has always been there for me, providing guidance and support throughout my whole life. She taught me the value of effective study habits, morality, and being passionate about anything I put my mind to. She always had a vision of raising an ambitious and strong son, but was still compassionate. She had worked with and seen several successful men become powerful, but lack basic empathy toward others. Due to this vision, I turned out as she describes: 'Un Buen hombre'. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | The character traits I admire most in an individual are aspiration, adaptability, and kindness. These character traits show that an individual is well-rounded, capable of success, and most importantly, helps to make the world a better place. Aspiration allows individuals to unlock their potential and reach the limits of their abilities. Adaptability allows individuals to thrive in any situation, handling change no matter how serious a problem might appear. Kindness ensures that this individual uses their abilities for the best reasons, improving the world, one person at a time. Overall, the best character traits I admire are any that ensure a person is responsible, resilient, and empathetic, since these traits help an individual be successful in their personal and professional lives. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | Dating for the first time in High School is always an anxiety-inducing experience. One of the funniest moments I have experienced is when I was invited over to my crush’s house for the first time. It was a typical Friday night and we had both spent hours getting ready to see each other. I remember Kiara’s mom telling me how she spend days picking the perfect outfit and organizing all the make-up needed. As I arrived through the front door, Kiara’s pet Parrot, Peckers, flew down from his home and landed on my shoulder. The initial sharp pain of his claws immediately went away as he adjusted himself as if he knew he could hurt others. I didn’t mind the company as we sat down to watch movies and eat. However, things took a turn for the mischievous as the Peckers announced he was bored. “I can’t believe Kiara loves 'my name' and wants to get married!” Both our faces turned red as we tried to laugh it off. Immediately after he comments, “Unless she still wants to marry her old English teacher!” Kiara started shooing away the bird, “Go away you Parrotted piece of crap”. She chased the bird around the house as Peckers squawked, almost as if he was enjoying the hunt. Eventually, he flew back to his cage and said, “You are sorry”. She was overwhelmed with anger as she returned to me, only to eventually redirect her frustration to me as I couldn’t stop laughing at the situation. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | If finances and time were not an issue, I would love to go to Tokyo. The location is renowned for its wonderful traditional Japanese cuisine and international foods. It is also a dramatically different and new culture I would expose to, it’s not every day that one can have countless temples, shrines, and museums to explore. I also always wanted to witness sumo wrestling and the kabuki theaters in person. Additionally, the location is tourist friendly because it has amazing and reliable public transportation, making it easy to go anywhere without expansive planning. Ultimately, I love trying out new and tasty food, I would travel anywhere that is known for excellent meals. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | As a parent, the final goal for my children is that they grow up to be confident, self-sufficient, kind, and adaptive individuals. This ensures that they are ready to effectively face any challenge in their professional or personal lives and thrive while they are at it. This can be achieved by passing on life skills, essential values, and good habits through love and support. Teaching children life skills like cooking, finances, and home maintenance allows them to become independent and self-effective. Essential values like learning the importance of education, empathy, and ambition for success carves a path to a successful career. Teaching children effective habits like exercise/sleep schedules and conflict resolution skills will help them create a healthy personal life. Most importantly, I need my children to use these skills wisely. That is why ensuring they grow up in a loving and compassionate environment is vital for a strong sense of self-worth and morality. |
