The Proust Questionnaire started as a Late-Victorian parlor game and became popularized by the answers of French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust. He believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.

Inspired by the concise yet thought-provoking questions, we devised our own set of questions into a series we call VAULTPortraits.

First up, Christina Ball, Director of Speak Language Center.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Greet my dog, always waiting outside my bedroom door, with a vigorous belly rub.

As a child, what did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?
As a child, I didn't want to grow up. I wanted a life of play, thus I wanted to be an actor dancer, or circus performer.

What do you most admire about yourself?
My endless enthusiasm and openness.

What are your keys to productivity?
Trello, Upwork, collaboration, and delegating tasks to more productive people.

If Myspace were still a thing, what would your profile song be?
"Roam" by the B-52's.

Where do you find inspiration?
Art, literature, conversations, and collaborations with other people, travel.

What is your favorite room in your house?
Our screened back porch.

What are a few favorite things that you cherish in your home?
An old tambourine played by my Italian grandmother; my wedding dress, originally my mom's Northeastern University Homecoming Queen dress, designed and sewn by my Italian grandmother; a plaster cast of my daughter's outstretched hand as a baby; beloved family photographs.

What is your current obsession?
Bollywood dance lessons!!!

How do you typically spend a day off?
If I'm home in Charlottesville: morning yoga or workout class followed by coffee with friends, a visit to the farmer's market, afternoon cooking and reading on the back porch, a nature walk with my dog, or evening either watching theater or performing on-stage.

What is your favorite city, and why?
In the U.S.: Chicago, because it's always reinventing itself and is first at being second. Elsewhere: Lisbon, because of the way the sunshine reflects off the colorful tiles, the romance, the vintage+modern design aesthetic, and, of course, the codfish cakes and pastel de nata (pastries).

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My small business: Speak! Language Center. Enduring, thriving, and growing for 20 years with no business training. All the connections made and bridges built between people of different cultures.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The absence of negative elements such as fear, stress, hate, pain, and suffering. Also, a long hike along the coast of a Greek island followed by a plunge into the clear, cool blue waters comes pretty close to perfection in my book.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Probably a talented artist/actor able to enjoy a long and fulfilling life doing what they love, such as Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, or Meryl Streep.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I don't think history has uncovered a figure I can identify with, yet. Perhaps Isabella Stewart Gardner, a philanthropist, traveler, and art collector built a museum in Boston (1903) in the style of a Venetian palace with the most magnificent interior garden. As a lover of literature, theater, and film, I identify more with fictional characters and could name dozens of them!

One place in the world you’re dying to visit?
India. Hoping to travel there in 2025.

What is the most unexplainable thing that has ever happened to you?
As a baby, in the era before car seats, I fell out of the front seat as our sedan went around a sharp curve (I was pulled from mom's arms). I landed 20 feet in FRONT of the car (after my dad slammed on the brakes) and was completely unharmed. Physics could probably explain it, but it's unexplainable to me!

Describe your personal style/style philosophy.
Something old, something new, something fun and everything YOU!

What is your motto?
George Eliot said it best: "It is never too late to be what you might have been."