someday I'll leave and find a better life

/ the libraries (map pointing to Rinconada Library)/

My time in high school

Attended high school in the
2010s

Overall high school experience
1/10. I wanted to die. I didn't belong. I hate this place.

Grades in high school
C's and below. I actually did get a lot of As when it was a cool subject.

 

Favorite subjects
psychology

Struggled with...
Math, I have a learning disability.

Favorite extracurricular
I didn't take any, work experience?

Life since high school

Attended college / university at
Im working, still in the area. Im just trying to survive right now. I take some classes at community college.

Places lived in US
California

Current occupations / past occupations
Im in foodservice.

Industries I've worked in
- Other Services (except Public Administration) (e.g. Repair, Salon, Political/Labor orgs, etc.)

Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Hell no! 

Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
I always knew I'd be in restaurants just like the rest of my family but I hope to go into healthcare. 

A little introspection...

To me, being successful means...
Being emotionally, financially stable.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I really bought into the one track success story of being a great/student/athlete/whatever but events and life changed me, I dropped out of school then went back, I had to support my family etc. I found out that my goals changed and what's really important isn't how smart or great I looked/seemed.

My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Im 22, I helped support my family for a long time, I worked 3 jobs and went to community college. Im self sufficient, I bought my own car i pay my own bills, it feels great. I guess I learned to be a survivor, a responsible adult,no one can bring me down. 

My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Hmmm, going back to live with my family, I thrived on independence and now I feel responsible for them again. It hurts that there are some things I can't help out with. 

An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
There are many, but I think at one point I was around 15 and I was a truant trying to find a job, one of my classmates had comitted suicide and something just snapped in me and I realized I can't live my life like this anymore. I went to school and got a diploma.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Fuck palo alto, im still here and I still suffer.

My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto

the libraries [map pointing to Rinconada (Main) Library]