Alumni, Nick Rush B.A., former managing editor of The Mirror & the Lamp.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Gosh. I think the perfect experience of happiness will only come when I am no longer chasing after it, considering it a prize to be won. I too often tell myself things like, “After you complete this stage of your life, you’ll be good,” or “Once you are free from this responsibility, you’ll be happy.” In reality, there will always be a next step, another stage to live through, and another responsibility to deal with. Learning to be happy underneath these stresses should be what I’m striving for. I imagine being able to do this would grant the closest to perfect happiness one can get.

What is your most treasured possession?

My Jeep. Paid for and routinely serviced, she is trucking right along with her 100,000-ish miles and shows no signs of stopping. Thank god, because knowing that I can pack a bag and drive somewhere beautiful is one of the only ways I combat the symptoms of burnout.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I’d quite possibly kill to be a natural performer. There is no other life I glamorize more than the life of an actor/singer. Being paid the big bucks to play pretend and sing a tune sounds like a dream, and unfortunately, I know how satisfying the work can be. Doing theater in high school gave me a taste of how thrilling performing is. Unfortunately, it also gave me a bit of an ego, as it does for most theater kids. Luckily, my head has been thoroughly shrunk since.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I hate my need to be admired. Like I already mentioned, I had a bit of an ego problem throughout high school, brought on by my participation in the performing arts. I wanted to be thought of as talented, as the best at something. Of course, fairy tales and kids’ stories taught me that doing my best is all that matters. What a load of crap. I still crave formal recognition. However, this craving reeks of desperation and laziness. If I really am “the best,” whatever that means, I won’t have to seek out recognition. And, naturally, I do not want to come off as an ass. Would I still like to be admired though? Yes, please. Admire me for being this vulnerable.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Chattiness. Not in the “pleasant, small-talk” sort of way. In the “trapped in the parking lot even after we’ve reached our car because you won’t end this obnoxiously one-sided story about the crazy experience your friend’s sister had at this same grocery store last Thursday while shopping for your birthday party” sort of way. 

What is your greatest extravagance?

Plants and Aquariums. These are my biggest hobbies. Keeping house plants and fish are two practices that go hand-in-hand, and also significantly elevate any space that they are in. I’m a huge geek about this stuff and have definitely broken my budget many times over a flashy new tank mate for my fish or a particularly lush plant for my shelves. 

On what occasion do you lie?

I lie for fun — when a friend proves to be gullible and there are no strings attached. There is something so entertaining about spinning up a little tale, one that harms no one, just to see if you’ll be trusted. One time I convinced a friend that I was born in England but lost my accent because my very American grandparents paid for a speech therapist after moving me to the States. They totally fell for it.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I think I would actually kill for a faster metabolism. I have struggled with my body for years, and while I am learning to accept and love myself, this process would be much smoother if I could burn off some calories quicker. It’s alright though. Being fat breeds good humor, and I am grateful to have this sense.

What do you most value in your friends?

A shared sense of humor. Not only understanding but having the same sense of humor as your friends is one of the simple joys of life. It’s like you all speak your own language.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Lord, this is a difficult question. Between the shows and movies I watch, the video games I play, and the books I read, a thousand heroes come to mind. Because of its recent impact on my life, though, one figure stands out among the rest. Jinx of Netflix’s Arcane is an incredibly complex character who experiences one of the most emotionally turbulent arcs in the series and in narrative culture as a whole. I cried over that blue-haired speed demon. If you have a beating heart, I bet you would too. 

Who are your heroes in real life?

My parents. While this may be an expected answer, it is the most honest I can give. My parents have worked so hard my entire life to provide opportunities for myself and my sister so that we may be as fulfilled as we possibly can be. They also tirelessly care for my grandmother, who will be nintety-seven in July. I have yet to meet a pair as selfless as my parents.