About me... Personal Mission Statement: My mission in life is to treat every sentient being with respect and honor. It is to cause the least amount of pain while I’m here and to leave both the planet and society better than when I came to be here. It is to do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. I believe that every person has the power to change his or her life and education can facilitate that change. To help change the lives of those in my community; whether that community is my local, regional, national or global community is one of the highest paths in life. I strive to follow that path. Personal Interests: I strive to maintain a balance in all things in my life. To do this, one must pursue interests that are both stimulating and relaxing. My favorite pastimes include birding, hiking, backpacking, running, cycling, ethnic vegetarian cooking, reading, traveling, and studying the Spanish language.