I've come to the conclusion that there is no standard "about me" response for such an occasion. I could sit here all day boring you with lines about where I went to school, how many siblings I have, what my political interests are, who I want to win the Super Bowl, what my favorite wine is, whether or not I like dogs... Hopefully you get where this is going. But after all that superficial information, would you even have an accurate idea of who I am? Odds are slim. Instead, I will tell you a defining moment in my life and let you pass your own judgement.

Toward the end of my high school years my father once told me, "Never put your name on something you are not proud of." These cliche words of wisdom did not come following your standard pre-college, father-son talk, but rather after I made a mistake; one that sounded like the right thing to do at the time. For personal reasons I will not get into the details, but imagine pouring your heart and soul into something only to find out that your efforts have gotten you nowhere. Well, that happened to me, just as I'm sure it has happened to many others.

I still remember the feeling I had when I heard my father's response. I was expecting him to say something along the lines of "you live and you learn," or "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger," but those words of encouragement never came. Instead, the words "never put you name on something you aren't proud of" kept echoing in the back of my head, searching for meaning. In an odd way his inappropriate comment stuck with me in a manner my father could have never predicted. Then one day it clicked, and I finally realized what he was trying to say to me. I interpreted his remark as striving to do your best at everything you do, even if it's a mistake. He wanted me to realize that no one is perfect, but we can still have pride in the things we do. Integrity may be a pillar of good character, but nowhere in the definition is perfection included. No one can make the right decisions 100% of the time, but we all can stand by our decisions and be proud of them. In other words, live life to the fullest. Stop worrying so much about making the best decisions. Be proud of what you decide, and remember, NEVER put your name on something you aren't proud of...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on Couchsurfing because I would love to meet people abroad. I will be traveling overseas to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Loas, and Cambodia in the upcoming months, and would love to meet people who are also eager to broaden their cultural understanding. I like the idea of staying with people outside of the conventional hotel/guesthouse setting. I believe Couchsurfing can provide a unique experience for both myself and my host.

Interests

I am very interested in international trade, politics, philosophy, and development, and I would love to learn more about the local, national, and international economic atmosphere in the countries of Southeast Asia. I hope Couchsurfing will enable me to meet people who would like to share their unique grassroots information and experiences with me. I have a great appreciation for unconventional thinking, and am always open to considering new ways of thinking.

I love sports, the outdoors, good BEER and WINE, music, technology, and FOOD.

• dogs
• dining
• wine
• beer
• politics
• technology
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• sports
• super bowl

Music, Movies, and Books

Dan Brown
JK Rowling
Dave Matthews Band
Shutter Island
Taylor Swift -_-

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Discovered more about myself in the past 4 years than some will in their lifetime.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am youthful yet mature, adaptive, and willing to lend a helping hand.