Two steps forward, one step back: the imperfect college experience
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
2000s
Overall high school experience
4/10. I was always trying to fit in and make people like me - people who weren't worth my time.
Grades in high school
A's and B's. I took quite a few AP courses but would often have such bad anxiety that I would miss class or exams!
Favorite subjects
Computer Science / Engineering / Technical, English, Science
Struggled with...
Math! I never liked math and fell behind in middle school when I stopped attending algebra. I took two math courses in college and although I had to work hard, I did well.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“I changed my major many many times! I wanted to be a biology major all along but kept on dropping or failing out of general chemistry! I took it for the fourth time and got the highest grade in the class (finally!) I just stuck with it because I knew I had a passion for biology. ”
Attended college / university at
I first went to Bucknell then transferred to Emory.
Majored in
I studied Environmental Science and Biology.
Post-graduate education or training
I graduate next week and will be pursuing a degree in marine biology after completing a couple of internships
Places lived in US
Arizona, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
Places lived outside the US
Israel for a summer
Current occupations / past occupations
I volunteer and used to work at an aquarium. I will be moving back to California to work in a lab at ucsc.
Industries I've worked in
- Utilities
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Retail sales, aquarium
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
My college experience was completely different than what I imagined it to be in high school.
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
I changed my major many many times! I wanted to be a biology major all along but kept on dropping or failing out of general chemistry! I took it for the fourth time and got the highest grade in the class (finally!) I just stuck with it because I knew I had a passion for biology.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Being emotionally and physically stable while pursuing something you are passionate about.
My definition of success has changed over time.
In high school I compared myself to my "successful" older siblings who took more AP courses than me while also having friends than me. I didn't know how to define myself outside of the standards others had set for me and was very lost. I tried really hard in everything I did but never felt it was enough. I had a terrible eating disorder which almost took my life and my anxiety was through the roof.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Two things: one is being in sustained recovery from a debilitating eating disorder (which required extensive stays in hospitals and residential treatment centers) and the other is graduating from college next week 7 years after enrolling.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Probably resenting my parents for so many years and blaming them for all of my difficulties. This was more than teenage angst, it was deep rooted. Even if they weren't perfect every step of the way, they always believed they were doing what was best for me.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
I went to college to play a division one sport and got injured my second week of freshmen year. It threw me for a loop! Not only was my identity and dream of being a college athlete shattered, I really didn't know what else I was "good" at and had to do some serious soul searching. I learned who my real friends were and I learned that I actually have a lot of interests outside of sports.
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
Skyline
