Joshua: Greetings, readers, and welcome back to the Guys’ Spotlight Column, where a power-hungry, sentient flying cloak isn’t the weirdest thing that’s happened. Joining me today is a guest from Southern California, Matthew Conger!
Matthew: Greetings.
Joshua: Let’s get started with a few basic facts before something crazy happens. How old are you what grade are you in, and where do you live?
Matthew: I’m 17 and a junior, and, like you said, I live in Southern California. No, I did not root for the Rams.
Joshua: I see. Next question, what are some of your hobbies?
Matthew: I’ve been playing violin for 10 years and I also play guitar. I don’t play sports because I’m Asian, so if I was doing something it would be going to college early.
Joshua: (laughs) Sounds about right. Speaking of school, how long have you been with TPS, and what classes are you taking with them this year?
Matthew: This is my third year, and I’m just taking an English class: English 4/5/6 Children’s Lit. Shoutout to section 3, they are the only section worthy of Mrs. Thomas’ undying love.
Joshua: If this starts another intersectional war…
Matthew: It will be a worthy cause.
Joshua: Right, sure… moving on, what about your favorite food?
Matthew: It’s hard to put food in a box. I do have a few favorite kinds of food: Filipino, which is mostly lots of fish and rice, all fried, and American, which is… also all fried. I definitely have a least favorite food, though: Indian curry. That mixture of spices just doesn’t work for me.
Joshua: Coming out swinging today, are we?
Matthew: Naturally.
Joshua: How about the weirdest food you’ve eaten?
Matthew: There’s a few options for that one… probably a toss-up between fish eyes and escargot.
Joshua: Isn’t that, like, snails?
Matthew: Yep. Pretty good, actually. Just don’t look at it and you’ll be fine.
Joshua: I’ll take your word for it. Next question, do you have any pets?
Matthew: Not anymore. We did have a fish named Fred; he was blind in one eye, and I think he had fin rot. He got so skinny that he was too small to even swallow the food. Rest in peace, Fred, you tasted delicious that night.
(silence)
Matthew: What? He did.
Joshua: (mutters) My editor is going to kill me for this…
Matthew: Hm?
Luke: (yells from another room) Don’t forget to ask about siblings!
Joshua: Oh yeah, that.
Matthew: Not the first time you’ve forgotten?
Joshua: Don’t get me started.
Matthew: Well, since you asked, I have older brother named Noah.
Joshua: Cool! Just a few more questions. What’s your favorite Bible verse?
Matthew: Probably Romans 8:37-39; it’s comforting to know that nothing can separate us from Christ.
Joshua: It sure is. One last question, who is someone you want to be like?
Matthew: Career-wise, probably Ray Dalio, a multi-billionaire hedge fund manager. I was first introduced to economics through his YouTube videos. Another guy is Chuck Smith, the man who started my church back in the 60s. Both men built their establishments from the ground up, so they’re examples of what you can achieve even if you start with nothing.
Joshua: Awesome. Anything else you want to add?
Matthew: Just some advice for other students: math is very important, so do it well, and always remember that cost and worth are two very different things. Also a few random facts about me: I’m 6’ 3” and I’ve never left America.
Joshua: I think that about wraps it up, thanks for coming!
Matthew: Glad I could.