Left for 9 years and came back to Palo Alto
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
2000s
Overall high school experience
10/10. Inevitably, schoolwork sucked -- but I had the best friends, the "best" boyfriend, good relationships with my parents and teachers, I was captain of varsity, we made it to the state meet... aside from the persistent haunt of coursework and high expectations, I was very happy.
Grades in high school
A's and B's
Favorite subjects
English
Struggled with...
Science, but I took the hardest sciences courses and ultimately got my PhD in the sciences and am a researcher now.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“My father unexpectedly passed away when I was 23 years old and in my second year of graduate school. I had been extremely stressed about school and my professional prospects, and when this happened, I realized how inconsequential the things I had been worrying about were. It totally reset and refreshed my outlook on life and how I want to live mine. ”
Attended college / university at
Tufts University
Majored in
a double major in Economics and Psychology
Post-graduate education or training
PhD from Vanderbilt University and postdoctoral training at Stanford University
Places lived in US
Massachusetts, Tennessee
Current occupations / past occupations
Academic Researcher
Industries I've worked in
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Research
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Yes, my education has prepared me for my current occupation. In high school, I thought college would be really hard; on the contrary, it was a breeze compared to [high school name omitted].
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
finding meaning in the way I live my life, and the blessing of experiencing a wide range of positive emotions along the way.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It's not about money and prestige anymore.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Graduating with a PhD and starting my dream job at Stanford. I learned that doing right by others goes a long way in helping you out later down the road.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Not spending more time with my father, who passed away in California while I was across the country in graduate school. I learned that the relationships that you have with others are much more important than money, status, or success. For most people, the legacy you leave behind is the lives you impacted.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
My father unexpectedly passed away when I was 23 years old and in my second year of graduate school. I had been extremely stressed about school and my professional prospects, and when this happened, I realized how inconsequential the things I had been worrying about were. It totally reset and refreshed my outlook on life and how I want to live mine.
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 or around Palo Alto
Happy Donuts
