The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry . I read this book for the first time in an undergraduate course titled "Existentialism and Literature," and reading it forever altered the way I view responsibility and the wonder of human relationships. Though it is a children's book on the surface, it is a delightful tale full of timeless wisdom for both young children and seasoned adults (and any age in between). I read it at least once a year and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. 

Unsurprisingly, my favorite subject is Literature. Given that the written word is necessarily produced by human beings, often about human beings and for human beings, it is the single greatest artifact of human history. To me, Literature is a gateway to understanding not only the stories of those who came before me (both fictional and non-fictional), but also to understanding myself and my place in the world and in relation to its inhabitants.

I greatly appreciate our emphasis on the development of the soul along with the mind in both our students and our staff. An educated human being is not simply one who knows facts and theories but one who understands such things and prudently incorporates them into his or her life. An intelligent mind without a virtuous heart can quickly lead an individual or community into treacherous waters, and I treasure Ascent's mission to harmoniously equip our students with intelligence and virtue so that they may become productive, responsible members of our community, and that its staff are held to high standards of virtue as well.

I grew up playing ice hockey, and it is still my favorite game to play (whenever possible) and to watch. I was thrilled to cheer on the Colorado Avalanche as they brought home the Stanley Cup this year!