Living Life, Having Fun, and Finding Balance
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
7/10. Great education, lots of freedom, met certain friends that I will have for life, had a lot of fun but also some challenges. I did, however learn to make new friends when times were tough & to diversify.
Grades in high school
B's and C's. I was smart but not a great test taker & didn't apply myself as well as I could've. I excelled in English & Spanish & took some honors & AP classes in which I did well.
Favorite subjects
English, History / Social Studies, Foreign Language
Struggled with...
Physics & Photography. Physics was hard for me & I missed a lot of photography classes because I had chicken pox my freshman year.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
Attended college / university at
USC
Majored in
Comunication & Social Science with a Spanish minor
Places lived in US
California, Illinois, New York
Places lived outside the US
London, UK
Current occupations / past occupations
Director of Business Development for an Architecture & Engineering firm
Industries I've worked in
- Construction
- Information (e.g. Publishing, Film, Broadcast, Telecommunications, Libraries)
- Internet companies
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Not really. It was more just gaining life experience.
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
Often..started in "internet," & worked in various fields in that medium & have worked as a "Gal Friday," taken time off & seem to keep coming back to the Architecture/Engineering/Construction industry.
A little introspection...
“[My biggest regret is ] allowing others to put & hold me down...allowing them the power to do so. I have learned I do not have to endure jobs or people that are toxic for extended periods of time. ”
To me, being successful means...
Being balanced.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be more about money and material things, now it is about being happy.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
I have worked hard & found a job I truly love where I am trusted, valued & appreciated. I have taken care of an ailing parent, lived multiple places, found true love & traveled extensively. I have been to college & made wonderful friends. I view all of those as valuable life experiences & accomplishments in each of their own rights.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Allowing others to put & hold me down...allowing them the power to do so. I have learned I do not have to endure jobs or people that are toxic for extended periods of time.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
My father's brain injury left me caring for him for 13 years. It was challenging & rewarding at times. Often I felt alone & isolated but I have the knowledge that I did all I could for him & helped make his quality of life better. I spent as much time with him as I could & I feel thankful for it.
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
So many: The Oasis, Alpine Inn, Old Pro (on El Camino), Round Table [map showing the Oasis]
