Do you like to compete?

I do. I'm a very competitive person.

Any other sports interest you?

I've been boxing for the past four years.

Since you were twelve? What got you started?

Because of my mom really. She's a third-degree Karate black belt and a long time east-coast Karate champion. So I sort of picked up on that, starting with Karate, which I did for eight years. Then, when I got tired of it I moved into boxing. I've got a lot of energy. (laughs)

I would think that boxing is more competitive than Karate?

Yeah, Karate's a little more subdued, and good for self-defense. Boxing though is just for fun. It's more individualistic. There's nothing like the one-on-one, instinctual, primal need to get at each other when you're in the ring. Once again, there's that energy. It's between you and that person and everything else is outside the ring, and it's survival.

Did you like to read in school?

I had a hard time reading when I was little, but then whatever problem I had went away in the second grade and I've been reading like crazy ever since.

What are some of the books that caught your imagination?

I used to love the Roald Dahl books — you know the witches and all of the fantasy. As I've gotten older though I've gravitated more to American literature, especially the transcendentalists: Emerson, Thoreau, and the modernist writers. They fascinate me.

Before we leave grade school, is there anything major that happened to change your life?

Yes actually, in sixth grade. I was forced into a musical over at VCS (Village Community School.)

Why did they force you? Was it a class requirement?

It was more peer pressure. All my friends were doing it, and they wouldn't let me say no. So finally I agreed, but I asked for the smallest role possible and I hated it all the way up to the performance. But then I did the show and found out I loved it.

Did you have to sing and dance?

Uh, yeah.

It doesn't sound like you enjoyed that part as much ...

The dancing didn't tickle my fancy, but the singing did.

So what was it that changed your mind about being in the show?

It was the first moment I walked onstage and there was such a connection with the audience. It was amazing just being there reacting off of each other.