1. I’m a huge believer in building strong, lasting friendships. As I’ve grown up, I still keep in contact with many of my classmates, old friends, and even former coworkers. There’s nothing more fun that brightening someone’s day with a random “thinking of you” text, or surprising them with a decorated desk on their birthday. (Balloons, confetti, the whole nine yards!)
2. I enjoy making others laugh, even if it’s at my own expense. Every year I go all-out to win my company’s lip sync contest. My send-up of the Genie from Aladdin (complete with the beard and fake abs) earned me first place! (And my friends will all agree — you ain’t never had a friend like me!)
3. I’m driven by setting goals and challenges and then working tirelessly to accomplish them. Going to college was incredibly important to me, but my mom couldn’t financially support the cost. I applied for scholarships and loans, and worked full time while going to school. Today I’m debt free.
4. I love making even the most everyday experiences fun, like going to Target and helping my best friend decide on exactly the right type of toilet paper. (There are more options than you think!)
5. I enjoy teaching and helping others. I’m like Mrs. Frizzle, but without the magic school bus. I learned early on that it’s not about who’s the smartest. The best thing you can do is share your knowledge with others, and both grow from the experiences you have.
6. One of my favorite ways to relax or take my mind off the world is to sing. Though admittedly, I’m not very good at it. I may be one of the only people who secretly loves karaoke. But don’t tell anybody.
7. By day, I’m a user experience designer. The simplest way to describe what I do is to say that I am a problem solver. My professional care is all about understanding people, how they use technology and interact with each other. With that knowledge, I create websites, apps, and different cool experiences to help them solve their problems.
8. By night, I’m a stargazer. (See what I did there?) As a kid, I loved staring into the night sky, both inspired and humbled by knowing we were just a tiny plane tin a sea of galaxies. I can’t wait to drive out to the country with my future child, spread out a blanket, and watch their reaction when he takes his first peek through our telescope.
9. When it comes to doing stuff around the house, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. You could say I’m all for the DIY (Do It Yourself) lifestyle. Painting? Plumbing? Planting? Simple! This year, I even helped build a house through our local Habit for Humanity organization.
10. Finally, I believe that learning never stops. One of the core ideas of my life is my philosophy of always learning. My curiosity is the most significant motivator in my life, and I can’t wait to inspire my future children with it as well.