Harmony17
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
2/10
Grades in high school
A's and B's.
Favorite subjects
English, History / Social Studies
Struggled with...
Math
Life since high school
“At the time, as a Senior in high school, I thought I had no future and nothing would ever make me happy again. If I had given up then, I would have missed the best parts of life. Whatever you are going through, remember that it is only temporary—it will pass. No matter how bad it is. . .it will end. Don’t give up.”
Attended college / university at
Santa Clara University
Majored in
English with a Writing Emphasis
Post-graduate education or training
Juris Doctor (Law School graduate)
Places lived in US
California
Current occupations / past occupations
Corporate Paralegal at a global law firm
Industries I've worked in
- Information (e.g. Publishing, Film, Broadcast, Telecommunications, Libraries)
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (e.g. Law, Accounting, Interior Design, Graphic Design, R&D, PR, Advertising, etc.)
- Administrative and Support Services
- Educational Services
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Yes, for the most part.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Being self aware and kind to those around you and yourself. Do the best you can do in each phase of your life. Understand that you will make mistakes--everyone does--and somehow, it all works out right eventually.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was a [high school name omitted] student, I thought that grades, getting into a great school, having a lot of friends and an active social life was success. Then after I graduated from a great university and earned my law degree, I thought success meant landing a lucrative position in a prestigious law firm and making a lot of money. Now, I think that success means to be the best "you." It may sound like a cliche, but each person is unique and valuable and there is no one else like you. Know this and embrace this. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Don't be so preoccupied about what people think about you. It's none of your business. Only care about what you think of yourself. Life your life and treat people in such a way that you can respect yourself without regrets.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Surviving and persevering.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Thinking that once I graduated from a great school, everything would fall into place. This is so untrue. Expect the unexpected.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
When I was a Freshman in high school, my father suffered a stroke causing brain damage that affected his memory. He continued to suffer strokes until by the time I was a Senior, he could no longer recognize my mom, me, or even himself. It was very traumatic because I loved him so much. He had been my best friend. I was so very embarrassed that I never told anyone at school because I felt that my father's brain damage would make people think that I was a loser. At the time, at that age, our views are limited. Whatever is happening at that time is the most important, consuming issue and you think it will ruin the rest of your life. Although my father never recovered and died two years after graduation, that horrible event did not ruin the rest of my life. At the time, as a Senior in high school, I thought I had no future and nothing would ever make me happy again. If I had given up then, I would have missed the best parts of life. Whatever you are going through, remember that it is only temporary--it will pass. No matter how bad it is. . .it will end. Don't give up.
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
Foothill Park
