Home Depot
Six years ago, a scrawny twelve year old kid took his first steps into Home Depot: the epitome of manliness. As he marched through the wood section, his eyes scrolled past the options. Red Oak? No, too ubiquitous. Pine? No, too banal. Mahogany? Perfect, it would nicely complement his walls. As days went on, the final product was almost ready. 91 degree angles had been perfected to 90. Drawer slides had been lubricated ten times over. Finally, the masterpiece was finished, and the little boy couldn’t help but smile. A scrawny 12-year-old kid had become a scrawny 12-year-old man. This desk I sit at has not only seen me through the last six years, but its story and the story of the objects I keep on it provide a foundation for my future pursuits.
My trustworthy, five-year old laptop sits in the center of the desk. From accompanying me on my ventures to track Null Pointer Errors in my apps to playing classic Billy Joel after a rough day, my laptop is my first-choice vehicle as I drive through a life of curiosity. Whether executing my simulations of stress-analysis tests, teaching me how to make an origami lily, or showing me a TED talk on why people find it difficult to poop away from home, my laptop has allowed me to find different versions of myself. Though I will probably call myself an engineer someday, my heart is in so many different places. I’m a philosopher, a historian, an economist, a black belt in TaeKwonDo, a tech-y, a farmer, a teacher, an inventor, an entrepreneur, a TED-talk lover, and a sports enthusiast. With each Google search, a new world opens.
To my left is a stack of books. To earn a coveted top spot in the stack, the “winning” book has to have taught me a life lesson OR made me cry. Currently, the book on top is The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine. Divine’s memoir details the training required to become an elite warrior and how that mentality can be applied to success in all aspects of life (social, mental, physical, and spiritual). Like Divine, I try to avoid a tunnel-vision attitude and consider the implications of my actions on society at large, as a leader and a role model. While running my company, a non-profit that kindles interest in STEM around the world, I have been particularly guided by the principle of leading from the battlefield. This mantra of collaborative leadership helps me facilitate many processes, from managing social media to collaborating with potential investors. I’m also reminded to sometimes take a step back in the midst of a crisis and let the universe give me the answers.
To the right of the books is a bead bracelet identical to the ones my parents and brother wear. When I look at it, I remember my parents’ secret sign language as I stood on the stage of FBLA nationals. One thumbs up means “remember to breathe”, two thumbs up means “remember to smile for the photos.” Regardless, I forgot to smile for the photo. When I look at the bracelet, I also see my little brother tugging on me, asking me countless questions as I repair my cube-stacking robot. “What’s that weird looking spinny thing?” It’s obviously a 0.81 lb, 5mm shaft diameter, 5700 rpm, 35 oz-in stall torque, 22 amp stall current, brushless DC motor. Duh.
One day you’ll find me in a corner office somewhere, running a couple of different tech startups, but the desk I’ll be sitting at is this same one. I never want to forget that, at heart, I am a confident skinny little nerd unafraid and eager to take my next Home Depot trip.