I have been friends with Alan since he was my student two years ago. I was a fairly strict TA, but he managed to meet my academic expectations while also keeping an healthy sense of enjoyment when he worked with the group. I am confident that he knows which things require discipline and regimented work ethic, but also knows which things need to be enjoyable and fun. For this reason, he would be a great dog-walker or caregiver; he knows to follow rules to the letter, but whichever dog he will be looking after will have a great companion that makes time away from their owner (and favorite person) easier. He even managed to get along swimmingly with my family's Dachshund, Zoey, who is infamously weary of strangers (I cannot overstate how impressive that is).