Q: What is your idea of a fruitful day?
A: For the sake of this exercise, I am going to describe a fruitful weekend day. My ideal day includes a lil' bit of exercise (preferably involving my 2-year-old labrador, Lyle), a trip to the farmers market that results in a tasty home-cooked meal, some socializing, a clean house. When did I become my parents?
Q: What are your three favorite smells?
A: Snow (if you agree you can smell snow), the Minnesota State Fair (the good smells, not the livestock smells) and clean sheets.
Q: What is your earliest childhood memory?
A: My golden birthday was on Jan. 2, 1992, and an almost 2-year-old me was very excited about birthday cake (a chocolate AND vanilla sheet cake with candles). I called my cousin and best friend Sarah over to take a look at the cake and proceeded to drop the entire thing onto the carpeted floor. I can't remember what happened next, but I'm sure there were many tears.
Q: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
A: Typically the song that is stuck in my head — what it is and how it got stuck there.
Q: Based on something you’ve already done, how might you make it into the Guinness Book of World Records?
A: I am a notoriously skilled hula-hooper.
Q: What is something you learned in the last week?
A: Last week I had the privilege of traveling to China for work. It was my first time visiting East Asia, and on my free day I walked 8+ miles around Beijing. Through my solo wanderings I learned a lot about Chinese history and architecture, but my main takeaway was just how friendly and respectful Chinese people are. And how curious they are about my blonde hair!
Q: What teacher inspired you the most? How?
A: I attended Lake Country School from K-8 and can credit my love for creative writing to my Elementary 2 teacher, Ms. Zoe St. Mane. Zoe challenged friend Kip Dooley '08 and I to write early and often and gave us the skills we needed to express ourselves effectively and creatively. I went on to write for the Blake Spectrum and to pursue a degree in English at Colgate University.
Q: What is the best gift you have been given?
A: My grandma gave me my late grandfather's Nikon FG 35MM camera, which I used in Mr. Teslow's Intro to Photography class and intermittently ever since. I love film photography. The surprise that comes with getting negatives developed is worth the wait.
Q: What do you miss most about being a kid?
A: Writing, taking pictures, drawing, sidewalk chalk — all of the creative activities that you have time for in youth! It doesn't even matter if you're "good" at it, because it's good for you. I recently graduated with my MBA from the Carlson School of Business, and though my job allows me to think creatively, I miss getting my hands dirty, so to speak.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Matchbooks from restaurants or hotels I visit on my travels.