Cause and effect fascinate me. Take investigations into airplane incidents – I’m obsessed with the detective work that goes into them. Disasters don’t just happen, they’re the results of a series of events coinciding. I like dissecting that sequence to get to the bottom of what went wrong, the lessons learned, and how that influences improvements in plane travel.

I didn’t start off as a strong student, but once I set my mind to something, I follow through. My stubbornness helped me get better grades: If something was challenging for me, I kept on pushing until I could find my way to understand it.

I’ve probably watched more horror movies than any doctor would recommend! I love it when a film scares me enough to make me jump in my seat. In a weird way, that’s helped me be fearless in life, too. Moving to another country alone at a young age was a huge transition, but it didn’t scare me enough not to try.

As a kid, I used to wonder, “Why is the sky blue? Why do we have clouds?” Learning opens up new worlds… those light bulb moments, like when you finally understand why mixing two chemicals changes their color. I love getting to the point where I can explain it and even recognize it in everyday life. That's the kind of thing that’s kept me in science.

Things don’t always go as I expect. Instead of seeing that as a failure, I see it as an opportunity to learn. If a door shuts in my face, I get up, dust myself off, and keep knocking.

I’ve learned a lot by simply asking questions, which have done more for me than provide personal growth. Asking meaningful questions has helped me evolve my perspectives and help others notice things they hadn’t considered.

Being able to see the big picture has been an incredible asset to me on my journey. I visualize the end goal like a destination on a map and work backwards to determine each step as a pinpoint along the way that will help me get there.

New situations and challenges can throw you off balance. I’ve planted deep roots by getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I like putting myself out there to try new things, but I also have a strong foundation of goals and values to anchor me.

I’m really focused on making the most of the time I’ve been given on earth, asking myself, “What useful thing am I going to do for mankind?” I want to make a difference, and for me that means finding ways to support and help others.