As a kid, what did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?

Various different things. I think at one point, I wanted to be a firefighter. At another point, I thought about being a doctor because there was a doctor I knew that I really admired in life.

What are some of your hobbies outside of school?

I like to read, go backpacking, hiking, and camping. I also ride my bike a good deal.

What advice would you give to a WCA student?

Be yourself, be curious about things, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and speak to the Lord on a daily basis.

What is the coolest thing you have ever done?

Probably I would have to say having kids and having a family. Having a child––it’s truly amazing.

What is the best decision you have ever made?

First would be giving my life to Christ. The more mundane one would be going over to France my junior year of college because I ended up with the clear decision that I had fallen in love with language. I also ended up with a wife at the end of it, so that was good! [laughs].

What is your favorite place that you have been?

If we are going to go with cities, Paris is incredible. There is just so much to see and so much to do. And then, I love the outdoors. The most beautiful place I have ever been is the Sierra Nevada.

Why do you ride your bike to school?

I like to get exercise, and it is hard to fit a workout in the work day. This way I can get it into my schedule well.

What was it like to grow up in another country?

Well, I grew up in England until I was 16. Europe is very similar to the U.S. in many ways, but different too. [England] was more local, as in people didn’t move around as much. I lived in Mexico for a time as well, and I think that having the opportunity to live in other countries is a good thing. It really opens your eyes to the fact that not everyone has to live the same way.

What is your favorite thing about speaking different languages?

I would say that it is being able to communicate with people in a different culture. You can actually exchange real ideas and get to know another person and his/her language.

How many languages can you speak, what are they, and how did you learn them?

I speak English, Spanish, French, and German. I learned French growing up and in college and picked up Spanish and German by sitting in on some of the high school language classes in some of the school’s I taught French in.

What is your favorite thing to cook?

I would probably have to say boeuf bourguignon.