About Alicia

Reviewed on 5/31/2016

For full disclosure Alicia is my sister. While many may consider a reference from a family member too biased to trust, I actually think as a younger brother my reference actually carries a very unique perspective. Alicia is exceptionally thoughtful and caring. While my parents would try to get me birthday/Christmas presents that they knew I wanted (e.g. the newest Space LEGO), my sister would get me presents that I didn't even realize I knew or wanted. She has a natural intuition for what people care about. For example, for my 9th birthday she made a catalog for my rock/fossil/mineral collection -- she created a cover and inserts all by hand, bound it together, and then helped me fill in the information. I still have (and treasure) that today catalog, more than 20-years later. Alicia is organized... and as crazy as it sounds actually enjoys organizing. Whenever Alicia stays with me (e.g. for the Holidays), I make it a point to have her help organize different parts of my house. She is excellent at not only developing organization systems, but doing it in such a way that it is easy to maintain that organization even when she is not there. Alicia is diligent, responsible, and very intelligent. I don't think she has ever missed a deadline. And even in her 'rebellious years' in high-school, she was still ranked top 10 in our high school. She then went on to be Summa Cum Laude at UCLA and had 4.0 at her Ivy-League Masters program. As the younger brother (while I resented it at the time... because those were VERY big shoes to fill) she was always a tremendous role model for me. Alicia is crafty (in an arts-and-crafts-sense of way, not in a mischievous-sense). She can do everything from making scrap-books to friendship bracelets, from making collages to refinishing wood furniture, from painting a room to making a cool display for shells (which by the way was my Christmas present this year). Finally, Alicia is very smart and a great teacher. Just last week we had an in depth discussion about classifications of mammals, reptiles, birds, etc. While I wouldn't consider that the type of conversation I would normally have ("What happened on the last GoT episode" is more up my alley), she makes learning about new topics fun and exciting. Three hours later I learned exactly how and why birds are more closely related to T. Rexs than a Crocodiles (birds truly are Dinosaurs!). I couldn't imagine a better care-giver. And as someone who grew up with her in that role I recommend her to the fullest extent possible.