Musical theater performer learns to appreciate little things
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
9/10
Grades in high school
Mostly A's. AP Classes, Honors Lanes, weighted GPA was 4.3
Best subjects
Foreign Language, Math, Performing Arts, Music
Struggled with...
Science - not sure, it just didn't come naturally.
Favorite extracurricular
Performance Art
Life since high school
Attended college / university at
New York University
Majored in
B.F.A. Drama
Places lived in US
California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania
Current occupations / past occupations
Current: Legal Secretary; Professional Caroler; musical theater performer
Previous: singer, administrative assistant, executive assistant, full-time mom
Industries I've worked in
- Retail Trade
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
- Accommodation and Food Services
Did your education prepare you for your career?
Yes (partly).
Has your education and/or career trajectory ever changed? How?
Yes. I transitioned from pursuing performing full-time, to administrative work (Legal Secretary) and pursing performing seasonally (became professional caroler) or occasionally.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Having fun, being content., recognizing what is truly important: the relationships we build and maintain. Free of overriding worries, i.e., not enough food/shelter and means of earning income.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Growing up, I thought success was defined by how successful one was in their chosen career.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Recovering from a serious illness, when many (including myself) for a while didn't think I could. I learned that improvement is possible despite long odds.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
To go into a performing arts college without going out and trying to work in the industry first. I would have quickly discovered that I couldn't function in this lifestyle and would have had more insight into what I was going to study in college. I learned that there is no better education than getting your hands dirty and being in that environment.
An unexpected event that changed my life and how it impacted me
Getting seriously ill which was exacerbated by the unexpected death of a family member. I never appreciated little things, but this extreme grief and depression allowed me to appreciate the world around me, everything from observing the change in the leaves to how good a warm cup of tea felt in between my hands. This not taking simple, lovely things in our life for granted persists to this day, and I am oddly grateful for that traumatic experience for opening up awareness of beautiful things to be enjoyed in life.
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My favorite spot in Palo Alto
Lucie Stern Center - Palo Alto Children's Theatre
