Mr. Schubert makes that sound pretty exciting.

Another thing I think I'd be good at is running a small company — or even a big one. I'd love to own a chain of stores, for example. My math skills would come in handy, and so would my shopping skills. I'm an excellent shopper. This is partly because I grew up inNew York City, which is like shopper's heaven. If you want or need anything, you can find it inNew York, usually at half price. I know how to track down all the bargains, whether I'm inNew Yorkor Stoneybrook. I love fashion, for example; I really enjoy dressing in trendy, sophisticated outfits. But I don't just buy the first thing I see. I make a game of it: shopping around, checking prices, figuring out how to get the most for my money. Like, when I see a pair of jeans I want, I note the cost and move on. I have this little place in my brain where I remember the prices of the things I've seen, so it’s easy for me to figure out where to get the best value.

On the other hand, money and math and clothes aren't the only things I care about. I love to go to museums, and dance performances and Broadway shows, and yes, even the opera. (Well, not all operas.) I guess I'm a "culture vulture" — another result of growing up inManhattan. My parents were always dragging me to one event or another, and eventually I learned to appreciate and love the arts.

That may be part of the reason my best friend, Claudia Kishi, and I get along so well. I'm a patron of the arts (at least, that's what my dad calls it), and Claudia's an artist. She doesn't just draw or paint; she also sculpts, makes collages, and creates all kinds of "wearable art." Give her some raw materials — a few beads, some clay, a tube or two of paint — and she'll come up with a masterpiece.