| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | My most memorable childhood experience is buying my first dirt bike. I was eight years old, and worked all summer picking and selling raspberries with my sister to fund the purchase. The experience taught me at a very young age the relationship between work and reward, and how to maintain and work on mechanical equipment. Riding is still one of my favorite hobbies to this day, and I still reminisce on how it felt the first time I rode. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify with my father. We are both realists, and enjoy talking to each other as engineers by discussing things systematically. However, we both also enjoy talking about philosophy, religion and "the meaning of life." He has been an excellent role model by teaching me how to build and fix things, and how to treat others. I have also acquired a love for the outdoors through him. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire respectful and thoughtful people. As humans our greatest asset is communicating, and nothing angers me more than when people argue and fight over conflicting viewpoints. The best individuals are those who can be courteous to others with different opinions, and at least agree to disagree. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | Once I got stuck in playground equipment when I was a teenager, in front of all my friends. It wasn't funny at the time... |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | India! I love Indian food, and have many Indian friends. I am also interested in Hinduism and Buddhism, and Indian history. Last summer I went to Europe and toured nearly every country west of Russia, and although the experience was phenomenal I did not experience the "culture shock" that I was hoping for. I believe India would provide that. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would want them to have my respect, understanding, and desire to leave a legacy. It is very important to respect and understand ALL people, and to have a goal in life. I would also want them to become self sufficient. My father taught me how to work on cars and make household repairs, and I would want my children to know the same. |
