Who I Am Matters

Describe where you come from

I was born in the South Bay Area. More specifically, I grew up in a city called Los Altos-- a place surrounded by more notable cities; including Mountain View and Cupertino. The year I was born, my parents moved into my childhood home. I have lived there all 19 years of my life prior to coming to the University of Southern California. My parents were raised in Los Angeles, my dad in West Covina and my mother in Hollywood. Beyond my parents; I have roots in Germany, Poland, England and France.

Tell me where you're going

In the three years I have left at USC, I will obtain a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Science. I see myself working at a tech company in the Bay Area once I graduate; working at a "tech company" in a capacity that would be both challenging and fulfilling. Housing in the S.F. Bay Area is extremely expensive, so I could likewise see myself in another interesting area like Austin or Seattle.

Tell me how you plan to get there

I plan to utilize the technical knowledge I will gain from computer science to make myself a valuable and efficient employee in a business role. I see myself obtaining increasingly relevant and coveted internships over my summer breaks in order to make myself as marketable as possible upon graduation. I also plan to make use of USC's vast network for jobs and mentorship to facilitate this journey.

How are you LIKE your parents

My parents have dramatically different personalities and outlooks on life. My mom is extremely assertive and gregarious. She is an expert at manipulating situations and people to achieve her desired end goal. I am similar to her in that I enjoy interacting with new people and squeezing the most out of life. Another valuable gift she gave me was an awareness of how to improve my health and fitness. As a young girl she competed as a ranked triathlete and marathon runner in Los Angeles. When she raised her children she made sure we all had an appreciation for the benefits of exercise and healthy eating. My father is similarly stubborn and intelligent, but he is more reserved and analytical. I gained many positive academic and professional habits from listening to him. Similar to him, I try to be deliberate with both my words and actions. He also imparted on me the value of hard work and prioritizing my education.

How are you UNLIKE your parents

Like I mentioned previously, the character and personality traits of my parents cover a wide spectrum; therefor, I share many commonalities with my parents. However, I definitely believe that I have more progressive and accepting outlook of people I meet and the friends I make. Additionally, my parents are extremely unapologetic in who they are as individuals, whereas my personality and values are continually evolving and improving.

Have you developed your own expectations for yourself, or if you were honest, would you say you're 

operating under someone else's expectations?

I operate largely under my own expectations. With that said, I have had many positive role models in my life; such as my older brother and sisters, who all work extremely hard at whatever they do. They also show me how to be an authentic and kind person. This ultimately motivates me to be work diligently to be both successful and a good person. My older brother in particular has always stood as the gold standard for what I should be reaching for academically and socially. My parents have always motivated and supported me, but I believe my harshest critic has always been the one inside myself.

Who serves as a model for you of someone who lives life with great passion and personal responsibility?

This individual is my friend Josh from my high school drum line. He served as a huge role model for how I act towards others and within society today. Any person, adult or kid he met he treated with the utmost  politeness and respect. He was able to show me that everyone deserves the benefit of doubt and respect. Further, I have learned that treating everyone with respect and reverence ultimately comes back to benefit you in really unexpected ways.

Connecting with the ANIMAL WORLD: What wild animal do you feel a special connection with, and why?

I feel especially connected to sea turtles. I think they are aesthetically beautiful and they also provide some fitting metaphors for who I see myself as a person. Sea turtles begin life racing down to the ocean, vulnerable and unprotected from the dangers of the world. Dramatic as it may be, I feel like that is a somewhat fitting metaphor for my path through my adolescence; changing gradually into the man I want to be. Sea turtles are also fairly solitary creatures. Similarly, I enjoy being autonomous in control of my own destiny. 

Connecting with the NATURE KINGDOMS: Describe a significant childhood encounter with a tree or plant.

As a child I grew up with my house bordering a sort of nature alley. Within this space there was blankets of random plants that coated the ground, undisturbed by humans. Among these plants was one called "miner's lettuce." I remember sometimes me and my older brother would play make believe and explore this alley. Occasionally we would snack on this plant for fun, exuberant that this plant we found on the ground was edible. It is interesting to look back at those moments punctuated by naiveté and inquisitiveness.