| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | The blizzard of 1996 stands out. It snowed almost 30 inches and I remember watching the weather channel constantly waiting for updates, re-reading the same warnings over and over again, and then walking to 7-11 in the storm to get bread and milk with my brothers. It was snowing so much we had to walk backwards. I can’t believe the 7-11 was even open! We walked down the middle of the street because nobody was around. It was incredible. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify most with my father. He and I are the most similar in my family. We are both very outgoing people pleasers who love history. Neither of us are the most book smart people but we both have a great ability to understand the needs of those around us and empathize with folks to benefit both of us. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire someone who is loyal and honest. I am inherently not a trusting person. You have to earn it over time but once I recognize you as being a loyal and honest person, I will support you and help you forever. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | Maybe not the funniest, but when I was in 5th grade, I used to always ask my teacher if we could watch a movie. She always would say no. Finally, one day she finished up a lesson and said something to the effect of “Well we finished that early.” So, I said, “Can we watch a movie?” She thought for a few seconds and said “Yes.” The whole class erupted in cheers, and I was a hero for an afternoon. And she let me pick the movie and I picked a national geographic documentary about whales. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would travel all around Europe visiting places of historic significance like WW1 battlefields, Normandy, Rome, Paris, Poland, and Vienna. And I would immerse myself in a location long enough to learn the language. Speaking a 2nd language with locals is a life goal of mine. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I hope to pass on a love of history and a curiosity of science. History is incredibly fascinating and way more entertaining than people realize. And science is the answer to why the world works the way it does. |
