| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | My most memorable childhood experience was playing organized football in high school and making the All-Star team. It felt great to make the team because it was a whole new experience for me. I enjoyed playing football already but had never played it officially on a team with real equipment and coaches. My coach surprised me at the end of the year by asking me if I wanted to play on the All-Star team for the whole league. It was an honor and something I will never forget. I don’t think I was put on the all-star team purely for skill but because of all my hard work. I was with the team from the beginning until the end of the season and almost never missed a practice, game or meeting and I think the coach really appreciated that. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify most with my mother. Me and my mom are both hard working and humble people. She is from the Dominican Republic and moved to this country when she was 18 years old. Her view on life has taught me a lot about appreciating little things and being happy with what you have. She also helped me accomplish any life goal I ever went after from school, to work, and even starting my own business. Most things I accomplished in my life I could not have done without my mom’s help. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire kindness and hard work. Kindness is important because it allows everyone to enjoy life. Life should not be selfish. Everyone should be working together instead of against each other. Hard work is important because if you don’t care about your job, it doesn’t get done correctly and this causes problems for other people. It is important that everyone does their job correctly so the next person can do their job correctly. Teamwork makes everyone’s life easier. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | One time I slipped down some stairs when I was having a party in my house. The party was with my fraternity in college, and we had a few parties throughout the year to raise money and have fun at the same time. At one point in the party, I was coming down the stairs and slipped because the stairs were wet. I went sliding on my butt down half the flight and there were a lot of people in the living room who saw me slip. I thought this was really funny to anyone who had seen but I got up and said, “So what I fell, I’m still the same person I was before I fell,” and continued partying like nothing happened. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I’d travel to Europe or Australia because I’ve never been to the Eastern Hemisphere. I would like to visit Australia or London and maybe France. I prefer English speaking countries because it is my only fluent language. I would like to see the Eiffel Tower, but mostly I travel to meet the people and see everyday life rather than viewing historical sites. If I was to travel to see a historical sight it would be the great pyramids of Egypt because I think there is an incredible history there and a lot to learn. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I hope to pass on knowledge and healthy habits. Knowledge is important because some things important in life aren’t taught in school. So, I think it’s important for parents to pass on as much knowledge to their children as possible and not rely on just school alone to provide their education. Healthy habits are important to living a healthy life. I would teach them about calories and to eat healthy foods like salads, sandwiches, and drink a lot of water. It is also important to avoid things like cigarettes and other drugs that can harm you and shorten your lifespan. |
