Born and raised in rural central Washington, Matthew grew up playing sports and traveling the world with his family, visiting six continents before graduating high school. After one semester at BYU he served a mission in Recife, Brazil, where he gained a love for the Brazilian people and culture. He is an avid BYU sports fan, attending most games during his undergraduate studies in Provo while majoring in history. Matthew chose to attend law school because of his fascination with the American legal system and his desire to help educate others on their legal rights and responsibilities. Outside of law school, he enjoys golfing and exploring the Wasatch mountains and national parks of Utah.