Living - and redefining - your own dream
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1980s
Overall high school experience
8/10. It's a hard time, but a time of great joys as well as lows.
Grades in high school
Mostly A's
Favorite subjects
English, Foreign Language, Performing Arts
Struggled with...
Math. I had trouble in regular math, and I had a math block. Slowing down, using a mechanical pencil and working with a friend to show all my work neatly eventually helped me, but I had low patience before that.
Favorite extracurricular
Performance Art
Life since high school
“My definition of success was to have EVERY element I dreamed of. I now understand there are sacrifices and compromises. There is going to be some suffering along the way, but that doesn’t mean you did something wrong.”
Attended college / university at
Stanford
Majored in
English
Post-graduate education or training
MA and PhD, English (Wisconsin and Boston)
Places lived in US
Massachusetts, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Current occupations / past occupations
Professor
Industries I've worked in
- Educational Services
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...
doing work that is meaningful and having a caring family and circle of friends
My definition of success has changed over time.
My definition of success was to have EVERY element I dreamed of. I now understand there are sacrifices and compromises. There is going to be some suffering along the way, but that doesn't mean you did something wrong.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
I have helped raise over $46K for an orphanage in India and I have become a Professor (highest rank) at a 4-year flagship University. From the first, I learned the joy in inspiring generosity and in overseas friendships. From the second, I learned that I can embrace all parts of a job if I put my mind to it.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
It's not that my life is perfect, but I am not sure I can point to one huge error.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
I had a miscarriage between my first and second child. It was really difficult to get pregnant after the miscarriage. The whole experience was a humbling reminder that you can't control a lot in this world, no matter how much you think you can try or plan things out.
This alumni is open to your questions and follow-ups.
In order to protect anonymity, we will pass along your message and they can choose whether to respond.
My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
the Palo Alto Children's Theater
