Still Searching
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
2010s
Overall high school experience
8/10. I had fun but didn't realize who my true friends were until I left. I didn't really know myself until I was gone, and I didn't really understand the distinction between "fun friends" and "true friends"
Grades in high school
A's and B's. After a pretty bad sophomore slump, I didn't overload myself with hard classes. I only really took high level math courses and the rest were regular level. I hated science but was good at it. I wasn't in the very top math lane senior year which made me think I wasn't good at math. I am. So was everyone else though.
Favorite subjects
Math, Physical Education, Science
Struggled with...
Chemistry. It was the peak of my slump and sig figs are the bane of my existence. Oh and English was terrible. I still can't write a thesis statement.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“I had lots of anxiety in high school, something that wasn’t talked about. I was terrified of boys and didn’t even get a solid first kiss until college. You always think that everyone around you is following the same trajectory. They’re just not.”
Attended college / university at
Washington University in St. Louis
Majored in
Major: Economics
Minor: Math
Places lived in US
California, Missouri, Wisconsin
Places lived outside the US
I studied abroad in New Zealand for 5 months during my junior year of college.
Current occupations / past occupations
I graduate college this month!
Industries I've worked in
- Educational Services
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
How does your college experience compare to your expectations of it while you were in high school?
[High school] definitely prepared me to work independently more than some of my peers who were coddled a lot in high school. College involves a lot more weekly/monthly assignments and few to no daily ones.
Has your major and/or desired career after graduation changed? How?
Graduated [high school] thinking psychology. Then thought anthropology. Then math. Then women and gender studies. Then education. Then economics. Then math. Then education. Then math. Then economics.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Working hard at something you care about, genuinely caring about others and having others genuinely care about you, staying humble and curious, and making my family proud.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think that I would find a dream job and that I would find something that I was the BEST at. I had plans on being the next Mia Hamm, the next Hillary Clinton, or the next Tina Fey. But those people are so so rare and if we're being honest I'm not nearly talented enough in one aspect of my life to be the next revolutionary. I have passions, sure, but I also realize that if I were to become the next big revolutionary there would be a million different wonderful small achievements that would have to come first. Tina devoted her life to comedy, Hilary to politics and activism, and Mia to soccer. And they had a natural talent that they knew was their calling. I don't know mine. Maybe it will come later, but I'm ok waiting. Because there's something so refreshing knowing that I am the one that gets to decide what my calling(s) is/are. I'm only 22, and it's the coolest feeling to know that success is what I make of it. There's no wrong answer. My expectations of myself can often be the most rigorous, but I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I had lots of anxiety in high school, something that wasn't talked about. I was terrified of boys and didn't even get a solid first kiss until college. You always think that everyone around you is following the same trajectory. They're just not.
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
The Stanford Dish.
