He says he isn't planning to work while in college because he wants to concentrate on his studies. Income from his summer job and help from his parents supplement his finances. The subject of home also comes up. Five generations of Whittens have owned the forty acres outside of Red Bluff where Zach and his siblings were raised. The family spread is also home to sheep, horses, cows, and up to a dozen cats at any time.
Neighbors tend to the livestock, and the cats more or less raise themselves.
All four of Zach's grandparents live near the family. Two of his grandparents were teachers, which may explain his interest in and respect for education. Reading is a favorite pastime, and his tastes are eclectic, encompassing science fiction, Mark Twain, Tom Clancy, and the Bible. For his Honors Forum class, he went to see the musical Jesus Christ, Superstar at Laxson Auditorium. He wasn't impressed.