My favorite Filipino childhood memory is growing up surrounded by all my cousins, grandparents, and uncles. There were always so many people around, so there was never a dull moment. We were always together—eating, laughing, playing, and getting into something. When I was going to school, we would play chess and checkers, and we were actually ranked in class based on how we performed. That definitely fueled my competitive spirit! I loved the challenge of trying to be better, and I think that competitive side of me has stuck with me into adulthood. Looking back, those everyday moments are some of my favorite memories. It was loud, chaotic, competitive, fun, and full of love—and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.