Balancing achievement with the rest of your life
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
7/10. I loved the friends, teachers, and experience, but looking back, it was very stressful, and I pushed myself very hard.
Grades in high school
Mostly A's. All A's and one devastating B+ :)
Favorite subjects
Computer Science / Engineering / Technical, Math, Science
Struggled with...
History. I just wasn't naturally good at it and it drove me crazy trying to get A's in something that I didn't really like/have talent for.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“ I didn’t get into a top tier medical school, and had to go live in a place and attend a school that I thought weren’t “good enough” for me. I ended up meeting wonderful friends and spending time in a place that was much better for me overall ... I learned that you can still have plenty of academic and personal success, wonderful friendships, without hitting the top tier of whatever you’re trying to do. ”
Attended college / university at
Yale
Majored in
Biology
Post-graduate education or training
Medical school
Places lived in US
California, Connecticut
Current occupations / past occupations
Doctor, mother
Industries I've worked in
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (e.g. Law, Accounting, Interior Design, Graphic Design, R&D, PR, Advertising, etc.)
- Health Care and Social Assistance
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Yes
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
No
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Being happy with yourself, and contributing to the community around you. Finding a way to balance your life so that you have time for all the things you find important.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Through college, I thought top grades and achievement meant success. I thought that graduate degrees meant success. It wasn't until after college when I took time off before graduate school that I realized that spending time with friends, doing fun activities, and being away from achievement-oriented things brought me more joy than school did.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
I am proud of my academic achievements, but am more proud of learning how to be happy on a day-to-day basis, and how to get the most out of the present moment. I am very proud of my two kids, and am proud that I've found a way to be a full-time scientist/doctor and also have a flexible, not-too-stressful job so that I can spend time with my kids. This way, I can contribute to science/patients/academics but still focus lots of attention on my family.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
I don't have a lot of regrets. I didn't get into a top tier medical school, and had to go live in a place and attend a school that I thought weren't "good enough" for me. I ended up meeting wonderful friends and spending time in a place that was much better for me overall (closer to family, less stressful place to live). I learned that you can still have plenty of academic and personal success, wonderful friendships, without hitting the top tier of whatever you're trying to do.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
I was diagnosed with acute-onset obsessive compulsive disorder during my medical training. This came out of extreme stress, and threw me for a huge loop. It taught me how re-prioritize my life to decrease stress, how to rearrange my life around keeping stress levels low, and taught me that I was fallible/had a breaking point.
Anything else that you'd like to share?
I love this. Palo Alto high school is stressful, and I'd love to be able to help
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
The Baylands
