What would be one piece of advice to a student entering TMS for the first time?

You have an unbelievable opportunity to learn how to interact with adults. Your teachers care so much about you, which makes it a very safe environment to gain confidence in your ability to speak with your "superiors," which will serve you well no matter what you do afterward. If you do go to college, though, you will find yourself able to engage with your professors on a level that will stun your peers. You'll be used to seeking them out and getting to know them, and you will not be intimidated by the concept of going to office hours. This is an incredible advantage; most of your fellow students will be in awe of your courage, when it will actually be second nature to you by then.

What student activities were you involved in?

Student council, drama, newspaper, soccer, and I went on the original Japan trip.

Is there one experience at TMS that had an impact on your future life after TMS?

Being high school, there were plenty of formative moments over the years, but I think that if I had to point to a single event that really impacted me in terms of "the big picture," it was when, as a senior, Keith Hubert needed to go out of town for a day or two, and he asked me to substitute for him in his algebra class. Not only was I surprised and honored that Keith would ask me, but it was my first taste of teaching a class by myself. It served me well as a teaching assistant in college, which, in turn, did much to fuel my desire to become a professor.

Did you make friends at TMS who you are still friends with today?

Of course! I've lost contact with many, but I am in almost constant contact with Sarah Bendon '01 and Alithea Howes '00.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of TMS?

Probably what a special and unique place it is. I've never met anyone whose high school experience came close to resembling what you get at TMS, and the experience I had here made a huge difference in how I turned out. The individual attention that you get is priceless.

What have you been doing in the interim?

I attended the University of Puget Sound, from which I graduated in 2005 with a degree in philosophy. I spent the 2003-2004 school year at Durham University in England. I decided to continue living in Tacoma for the 2005-2006 school year, and spent a few months with one of my pre-TMS dream jobs of being a baker. I had planned to attend NYU for a Masters in journalism, but discovered quickly after moving out there that New York was not for me, so I turned around and moved to Seattle instead. I spent the last two years working as an administrator for a high end custom furniture design and fabrication firm in Seattle, but I very recently moved back to the Bay Area, as the winter in Seattle never ended this year. It took seven years to get sick of the rain, but it finally did happen!