Name: Nicholas V. Dirago

Track: “Small Fish in a Big Pond”

Education: Philosophy and Government, Georgetown University ’14

Hometown: Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Who is the smartest person you’ve ever met? Connor Moseley, my best friend from home.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Thoughtful.

What potential perception about you would be misguided? I suppose the perception that I am cold or unfeeling, while perhaps understandable, is misguided. It’s more that I am heavily introverted and tend to find meaning and energy internally before externally. I think we privilege extroversion, likely to our detriment.

What ethical question confounds you? What can we be compelled to do?

What do you lie about most often? Being “almost done” with my thesis.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? I’d hope to be impressed that I stuck to a set of values, and maybe even changed some minds in the process.