Each week, the Express will introduce you to someone on campus. He or she may be a mover and shaker on campus, or some random student with a unique perspective. We call it Dime Dialogue. The goal is to get in their head and give you some insight into who they are. They may inspire you. They may frustrate you. They may entertain you. The point is, you never know what you’ll get. You could be next.
1. If everyone in the world were forced to assimilate to one language, which language would you choose?
That’s a hard question for me. Being a child development expert, there’s not one language that I would choose. I would choose an intergenerational language that the younger and elderly could all understand.
2. You can eliminate one of your five senses to substantially strengthen the others, which one would you eliminate? Why?
Vision. Just because I think the mind is a powerful thing. Even when you’re in the dark your imagination is a very strong mechanism that basically wires to you. Even if you don’t see something visually, your mind can make amends for those things you can’t see.
3. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
If was from my parents when I was a college student at Berkeley. They told me to never cut corners, and basically do your best at everything. Everything has to be professional quality, superb, excellent work.
4. What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever tried?
Believe it or not, it is something from my home country, the Philippines. I’ve only tried it once and never again! It’s durian fruit. It’s a very strong-smelling, purple type of fruit that they make into a yam-like pudding. I tasted it once and never again.
5. What’s your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is not to have a purpose. I think if I lose that purpose, then why am I here?
6. What’s the most embarrassing song on your playlist?
Well I grew up listening to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. because of my father. I would say this song by Dean Martin.
7. How long would you a survive in a zombie apocalypse?
You guys are asking me the weirdest questions that no one’s ever asked me! I think I would survive pretty well, because I can stand up to something I don’t believe in.
8. If you could cut out sleeping, eating, or drinking and still be healthy, which would you cut out?
I love sleeping too much. Eating is nice and social. It’s also relaxing, but I think I could survive without eating.
9. Would you rather be the only person in the world that could read minds, or be the only person who can’t have their mind read?
I would rather read minds. I’m trustworthy with sensitive information. Even If I could read everyone’s mind, it’s not something I would blab about. I would use that information in the right discretion.
10. If you could do one thing, anything you wanted with no repercussion, what would it be?
This is boring. No repercussions? I’ve always wanted to learn to scuba-dive and swim with the whales. No repercussions again? I can’t swim, and to be able to do that flawlessly is something that I want to do eventually, if I have time.
