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

I cried when I first learned that I had to leave my friends behind and go to a school 20 miles away from home. When I was at TMS, many years ago, I was the only 6th grader and I think there may have been four seventh graders at the time. However, the teachers were very supportive and the structure of the school helped to set the foundation for my scholastic discipline which would help me later as I went off to college. I also became more independent. I became more involved in activities outside of school such as sports and volunteering.

What student activities were you involved in?

I was involved in Leadership just as the basketball team was being formed, so we got to help choose the name for the basketball team.

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

Yes, quite a few, but mainly it was a few of the teachers that my friends and I still talk about as having the biggest impact on our lives today. One teacher was our history and geography teacher. He was so passionate that he inspired me and three other friends to see the world, learn about new cultures and try to obtain international jobs.

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

I graduated over 10 years ago, but still have a good friend, Tim Rose, that I have known since I was 12 and Claudio Brescia whom I also see often.

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

To be honest, Non-Priv! I don't know if it still exists anymore, but I remember being there quite a bit for being slow on the homework. I essentially grew up at TMS, so I have a lot of memories. I especially have fond memories of some of the teachers that are still there today. Those people were a big influence in my life.

What have you been doing in the interim?

I went off to college, discovered that I didn't like Los Angeles, moved back to Marin and made my way to Dominican. I received a BA in International Studies and am currently getting my MBA in Global Strategic Management there as well. I lived in Chile for a while doing some intern and volunteer work, such as translating the Lobby Law in a politician’s office (rumor has it that some of my work is in the Chilean Library of Congress!). I campaigned for Michelle Bachelet, their current female president (Latin America's 1st ELECTED female president), and I wrote political bulletins for an EU sponsored NGO whose initiative was to form something like the European Union but for Latin America.

Here at home, I worked as a copywriter for an Ad agency, and at a Fair Trade organization. I volunteered as the Social Programs Chair for the World Affairs Council's Young Professionals' International Forum, where I oversaw 12 different groups related to foreign language and cultural activities.

Why have you given back to TMS?

I have given back to TMS because the school helped me to become an independent person who has great pride in my work. Although I would get annoyed when homework was given back to me because it wasn't perfect, this process forced me to be a better student and develop a higher standard for myself.