What inspired you to found HitchHiqe?
There was a massive problem in Virginia Tech and its transportation market, as it was hard to find rides to go back home. Facebook carpool groups weren’t very reliable, so a friend and I worked together to help others find rides in less time.
Who was your role model and/or inspiration?
A lot of people, but one person is Elon Musk. I admire his vision and ambition to do big things for the world. I think anyone can be like him if they work towards their goals everyday.
What does your future look like? What do you plan to do?
Going forward, I hope to expand the app and company throughout the East Coast, and eventually the rest of the country. The main priority is to expand our team with engineers and markers. I would like to work on impactful projects and finding solutions for interesting problems once the app has grown.
What motivates you?
Building products that make people’s lives easier. When people use the products I’ve made and it makes their lives easier, it motivates me by showing me what I am capable of.
What were you like in high school?
I was very focused and motivated, but I also maintained the balance of being laidback and having a social life. I was the offer of a few clubs and took leadership roles in things that interested me. I was involved in math, science, and engineering clubs as well as service oriented clubs.
What is the best piece of advice have you received that has helped you be successful?
Go out and build your dreams, otherwise someone else will pay you to build theirs.
What do you do in your free time?
I like to read books or watch tv to destress myself. I also enjoy playing chess, tennis and badminton.
What’s your favorite tv show at the moment?
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Money Heist, and Silicon Valley
How has your life and daily routines in regards to your company changed as a result of COVID-19?
Obviously there are a lot less students traveling, so hopefully it will bounce back once the vaccine is created
If you could go back in time, is there, if at all, anything you’d do differently?
I would tell my younger self to invest more into my own growth and learning as a person instead of wasting time on trivial things. I would tell myself to make learning a priority.
If you could know the absolute truth to one question, what would you ask?
What is life?
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
Better by Khalid
In your opinion, who do you think is the most impressive person in the world right now, and why?
Elon Musk because of the work he’s doing for pushing civilization forward and continuing all of his ambitious work regardless of the criticism.
What advice do you have for fellow or younger students?
When you’re young, you have nothing to lose so spend time exploring and diversifying your interests and find something that makes you obsessed. Then try to become the world’s best at it.