done is better than perfect (or so I keep trying to tell myself)

My time in high school

Attended high school in the
1990s

Overall high school experience
8/10

Grades in high school
Mostly A's

 

Best subjects
History / Social Studies, Foreign Language, Science

Struggled with...
I struggled with physics and AP calculus because I didn't study much my senior year.

Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation


Life since high school

Attended college / university at
Stanford

Majored in
 a major in Economics and a minor in Computer Science.

Post-graduate education or training
I am a CPA.

Places lived in US
California

Places lived outside of US
I lived in Spain for 1 year before college.

Current occupations / past occupations
I am currently an accountant. I used to be a math teacher.

Industries I've worked in
- Finance and Insurance
- Educational Services

Did your education prepare you for your career/occupation?
I took accounting courses after college. Those prepared me for my current career.

Has your education and/or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
Yes, I went from being a math teacher to an accountant. I went back to school for accounting and became a CPA.


A little introspection...

To me, being successful means...
living comfortably, working at a job I don't hate, and spending as much time as possible with those dearest to me.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I think free time and flexibility have become more important over time.

My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
I became a CPA in my late 20s/early 30s. It took 4 years of blood, sweat, and tears. I learned that when I truly set my mind on something, I have a good chance of being able to accomplish it.

My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
I was a horrible student during college. I earned the opportunity to attend one of the world's best universities and then I wasted it. I'm not sure what I learned from that awful experience, but I did promise myself that I wouldn't go back to school again until I was ready to take full advantage of the opportunity.


This alumni is open to your questions and follow-ups.
In order to protect anonymity, we will pass along your message and they can choose whether to respond.


My favorite spot in Palo Alto

Hobees or Andales ;-)
(map is pointing to Hobees as, sadly, Andales is gone)