Mother, pursuing dreams little by little
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
6/10. I was depressed. I’m not sure how I would’ve rated it had I not been. I think it was a bit too academic and not quite as relaxed as my personality would have liked or to be.
Grades in high school
Mostly A's
Favorite subjects
History / Social Studies, Foreign Language, Math, Performing Arts, Physical Education
Struggled with...
English, I didn’t know how to write and couldn’t read quickly. I did fine, but was stressed out by it.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“It took me years to discover that happiness is not found in being the best at something, but in pursuing our interests just because it is enjoyable in and of itself. ”
Attended college / university at
BYU
Majored in
Sociology
Post-graduate education or training
I started a school counseling graduate program but decided I didn’t want to do that. I was trained to do therapy with children at risk for being kicked out of their home but found that too stressful. I then worked with kids in a special day class as an aid and enjoyed that while learning to play tennis and being trained in classical voice.
Places lived in US
California, Utah
Places lived outside the US
Switzerland and France
Current occupations / past occupations
My current occupation is being a mother and all of the teaching that involves as well as a children’s music director for our congregation.
Industries I've worked in
- Nonprofit
- Educational Services
- Retail Trade
- Children’s mental health
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Yes, in part. It helped me to view people and situations in different lights. But it didn’t help me with the day to day management of a home.
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
Once I had twins that became my new career.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Being able to provide for myself and my family, being content in the small moments with family and friends, continually learning and growing and being able to share my talents with others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Yes, not having completed graduate school I used to feel less than in some way when compared to my career oriented peers, but as I realized that I could keep learning and developing talents and pursuing interests on my own I have felt liberated to pursue my own life path that is meaningful to me.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
My greatest accomplishment is overcoming my natural impulses to become angry or lose my temper with my children. As I look back I realize that this mastering of self means the most to me, feeling like I am my own master.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Not trying out for the tennis team in HS was symbolic of my biggest mistake. It took me years to discover that happiness is not found in being the best at something, but in pursuing our interests just because it is enjoyable in and of itself.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
When I found out my parents were getting divorced my world shattered. I became angry and withdrawn, depressed for about ten years until I was helped to realize that my wanting my parents together wouldn’t change anything. Once I could let their decision be theirs and not mine I could move on and be happy again.
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
Cow hill or Gelato
