About
My dad tells me I am bright, creative, and have a welcoming personality. You know what? He's right. I am intelligent, and this made high school boring and unchallenging. So, I dropped out. Unable to afford college, I joined the Navy and became a nuclear reactor operator (read more in an article by Idaho National Laboratory). My time in the Navy made my job feel like an extension of my life. It wasn't only something I did for so many hours before going home. Because of this, I am as dedicated to my job as I am my personal pursuits.
Being intelligent also makes me a quick study. If I lack a skillset, it doesn't matter because I will learn it. Even if it's on my own time because I love to learn. Because of my passion for learning, I have learned a lot over the years. The topics might not seem relevant to every job; however, having a diverse background means I have different ideas. This fuels my creativity. It allows me to pull from many subjects and disciplines to solve a problem.
My welcoming personality came from the six years I worked in the family restaurant. Serving the local, elderly customers taught me a thing or two. They not only came to the restaurant for food, they also came for conversation and to feel seen and heard. By understanding this I became more attentive, responsive, empathetic, and patient. Additionally, I have learned that being in a bad mood never makes any situation better, so I tend to be a good mood, attempting to spread my enthusiasm to those around me.
Digital nomad
Working remotely benefits people in different ways, and I don't only mean working from home; I mean working in a remote location. Feeling like I was probably one of those people, I quit my high-paying job for a remote internship, moved into the campervan, and started working from the middle of nowhere. Let me tell you, this is one of the best decisions I ever made. My quality of life has improved immensely, and I am more productive when working. I get my hours in at all hours of the day and all days of week, and those hours are primo because I work when I feel motivated. Once I'm motivated and get in the groove, it's hard for me to stop working!
That being said, I am always open to exploring compelling opportunities. The right job, in the right location, with the right people – that's something I wouldn't pass up.
The outdoor woods
I've been walking since I was two, so one could say I am fairly adept at walking. Folks tend to enjoy doing things they are good at, and I am no exception. Couple that with my love of the mountains and woods, and hiking seemed like a natural hobby. In 2014, I took my hobby to an extreme and thru hiked the Appalachian Trail.
These days I do shorter hikes and backpacking trips but try to get out on longer ones when possible. In 2022, I hiked the Wind River High route with friends. After nine days, almost 100 miles, and 20,000 feet of elevation gain, we finished one of the most stunning hikes I've ever been on. Another favorite hike of mine is the Teton Crest. Aside from hiking, I also like to fish, run trails, and ride my bicycle.
