Early Life

I was born on 27 February 1977 in Great Barrington MA. My family moved numerous times during my youth, which neatly divided up each aspect of my schooling - as a toddler, I lived in North Adams MA; pre-school and part of kindergarten were in Slidell LA; elementary school in Houston TX; and middle school in Westerly RI.

High School

By 1991, I was in the "hamlet" of Highland NY, a small town on the Hudson River about 80 miles north of New York City. There I attended Highland High school, graduating with a High honors regent's diploma in 1995. I was quite active in High school, serving on the Quiz Bowl (Captain) and Science Olympiad teams (Silver Metal in Genetics at the Regional competition), School Newspaper (Editor-in-chief), and a few others things. Highland itself bored me however - a small town with limited long-term appeal and few opportunities. Not content to stay in the area, I left for University in autumn of 1995.

University

I began at the University of Chicago in autumn of 1995, studying Anthropology, with a concentration in African and Caribbean socio-cultural anthropology and Archaeology, particularly East African (Aksumite) and theory. I was also active in numerous organizations: University of Chicago Oxfam (President and Educational Chair), Student Government (Associate and Chief Justice of the Student Court, numerous committees), Dorm and House council (Member - Shorey Triumvirate, Pierce Tower Council Representative, Secretary and Athletic chair of the Tower), PSAC (Prospective Student Admissions Committee) (Tour guide and Host) and University of Chicago Democrats (1996 Pierce Tower co-coordinator) and I did some volunteer work with soup kitchens and food pantries in the Hyde Park and Woodlawn neighborhoods on the South side of Chicago. I graduated with my A.B. in June of 1999.

The Present

Having decided against a career in Archaeology, my attentions turned to the field of law. A short stint in a sales job quickly ended and I began working at Cascino Vaughan Law Offices, a small plaintiff's asbestos and toxic tort firm on Chicago's north side, where I currently work as a Paralegal and Legal Assistant.

The Future

I start law school at Washington&Lee University in August of 2001. After that, I want to be a litigator; general civil litigation, criminal defense or prosecution, and/or Private International law and International Privatization. Haven't quite narrowed it down yet.

Personal Data

A few other facts - I can program in HTML and have vast experience with both MAC and PC platforms. Language-wise, I am conversational in Italian, have some knowledge of French, can order food and get a hotel room in German, and also studied KiSwahili and Akkadian (Babylonian and Assyrian) cuneiform. I'm a registered Democrat, but economically believe strongly in Laissez-faire policies, including the gradual phase-out of welfare, Medicare and social security.