I am a perpetual construction zone.

Identity development is the focus of my life, personally, academically, and professionally. I believe everyone has a narrative they get to live, and I'm in a constant struggle to not be the cat that gets killed (or injured) due to curiosity. I love learning, about anything and everything.

I've lived in a "third world" nation, I've lived on coasts but feel mostly Midwestern, I grew up in the middle of rural nowhere as a superminority, I moved by myself as a teenager to a metropolitan area for college where I knew no one at first. So far, the world is beautiful--the dark places where you can hear your own heart pounding and the loud places filled with your closest friends' uncontrollable laughter. The best part continues to be the incredible people I get to meet.

Reading pageturners, watching online marathons, hiking forest trails, going to NBA/MLB games with family or friends enrich/invade my leisure time. Athleticism, biology and math are forms of art to me, worthy of awe.

A note about religion: Yes, I am Muslim. You might want to compare our OKCupid test answers--they will likely surprise you, even if you are also Muslim. The world I live in is nuanced, fluid and full of strangeness; I am, as well.

Minimizing potential regrets (hopefully). So trying to meet more people, learn more, feel more, breathe more...Academically and professionally, I'm aspiring towards being the clinical psychologist overdue for too many people. It keeps me fairly busy and focused, also allowing me to create a feeling of coherence/direction personally.

sharing and respecting space, emotional and otherwise. Also: dancing.

Based on frequency, how "ethnically ambiguous" I apparently look. It is an exception when someone new approaches me and doesn't first ask, "Where are you from?/What are you?"* Some are amazed I speak English at all. This is why I generally do not enjoy the first part of any introduction.

I'd like to think people notice my eyes or my smile. I honestly don't know yet since people (of all complexions and backgrounds) can't get over not being able to put me in an ethnic box.

*See "My Self-Summary" paragraph 2 regarding what I now study/have made a career.

"Psychological Thrillers"
...except for food--I like them less psychological, with a pinch of thrilling maybe every once in a while.

If you eat meat but don't like that you might find bones or tendons or veins in it so you only order boneless because it's emotionally more convenient, I will judge you. You know who you are!

Well there really aren't six if I just needed to survive. I wouldn't mind the following if someone were to leave me on an island:
- Internet
- Water
- Ice Cream
- Blankets
- Friends
- Sunshine
Actually, this may be the perfect vacation.

efficiency, my purpose on Earth, what I still have to learn more about, the brilliance of Neapolitan Ice Cream (diversity!), how great Frosted Flakes really are, tendons and ligaments, fruits and spiderwebs, beating hearts and mitosis, neurons and trees.

straight chillin', relieved to be able to rest up for my big Saturday night plans after a long, grueling week. Fridays may end up "Dinner/Movie" night at most, but Saturday night ought to be more fun.

I'm a sucker for human potential and was already into the third Fifty Shades book before I finally just had to quit; I hoped all writers inevitably grow. EL James, however, did not in that series. Neither did her vocabulary nor any of the characters, nor her concept of "plot." I confirmed: It is crap... (instead of taking everyone else's word for it).

you're not a total tool. < This is how I screen the tools.