i am sad
/To me, being successful means...
being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
i got money and then i wasnt happy
Read MoreUCLA, Mechanical Engineer, Colorado
/To me, being successful means...
looking at your past with acceptance and without regrets; looking at the present with contentment and thankfulness; looking at your future with hope, drive to grow, and excitement for what's to come.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Status quo matters less to me now - I am more in tune with what I want from my life, not what I think my peers would see and appreciate.
There are many paths to medical school
/To me, being successful means...
Pushing myself to learn more every day, to be a better person every day, to enjoy every moment as much as I possibly can. It means not wasting the precious time I have in my life, on making a difference in the world as much as I can.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was in high school I thought there was a rigid path to success. That the only way I could succeed was by getting the right grades, doing the right things and picking the right career. As I got older, I realized that there are many different paths to the same place. I am lucky to have had the opportunities that Palo Alto afforded me, to have gained the work ethic that I did there. But it wasn't my grades that defined me, it was my experiences.
College sophomore at Northwestern seeking happiness after Palo Alto
/To me, being successful means...
being happy. In high school, I was over-competitive, overstressed, overbooked. And, I felt god awful all of the time because I just felt like I had to be the best. Now that I'm in college, I just want to do things that I'm passionate about and that make me happy. But yet, in doing that, I feel like I'm accomplishing far more than I had in high school, even though in high school I was trying much harder.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Obviously, my self-worth is no longer defined by my GPA or my college acceptances. It's refreshing.
Mother of Sparkle Hunter and Glitter Girl
/To me, being successful means...
Having healthy relationships with my family, my community, a God of my own understanding and myself.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think my career and hobbies were the most important. Then I realized my idea of success was based on self glorification.
Bowdoin College, Sustainability and Energy
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy, being grateful, and being able to help others / contribute positively to society in a meaningful way.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
I don't really know. I was lucky that I was never wired super tightly in high school to think of college and grades as my end-all be-all. I do think now I define success less in terms of my personal accomplishments and more about what is important for my community, company, city, and family.
Here's a toast for the dropouts
/To me, being successful means...
I feel nothing but contempt and frustration toward the use of words like "success" and "failure" being introduced to adolescents. I've always had a huge problem with the idea that from a very young age, I'm supposed to measure my self-worth by my ability to "get stuff done", whether that means fulfilling my own goals or those of someone else. And while this frustration emerged mostly out of a youthful nihilism that I'm beginning to think is endemic to Palo Alto kids, it became even more emboldened as the years went on and I realized a vast amount of my time in the Palo Alto School District was spent disciplining my body and mind rather than liberating my spirit.
People will tell you that there are things you "need" to do to survive in this world, that you have to play the game because you don't want to end up like "them". Don't listen. Your youth is precious. Don't waste it worrying about someone else's idea of "success".
My definition of success has changed not over time.
Read MorePlaying (and Sometimes Working) in Colorado
/To me, being successful means...
Being financially independent, making enough money to work less hours, being able to support my hobbies and passions and spend time with my boyfriend and baby.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Success for me was very goal oriented: get good grades, finish high school, then college, then vet school. When I finished college and made the decision not to go to vet school, I was completely stumped about what to do. I then decided to go to grad school, and the goals came back into my life. BUT when I finished grad school... there I was again, unsure what to do next!! In the 7 years since finishing grad school, I have realized what is most important is that I am able to live my life exactly how I want to. I enjoy my work but feel most successful when I am doing the things I love outside of work.
Botanist and dancer, motivated by experience and love
/To me, being successful means...
continuing to grow as an empathetic human, focusing on self-care, and strengthening connections with those I love and with the world.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to just strive to be happy. Now I know that there are many different ways to be, and happy is just a small part of that story.
Caution: Advice from the ashes
/To me, being successful means...
Doing something that brings you the knowledge and happiness you seek out of your life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Different difficult events in my life and also getting out of high school. Once I was exposed to a more diverse people and a life that's not scheduled into subjects I grew and changed as a person a lot faster than I expected.
Made all the "wrong" choices, still came out OK
/To me, being successful means...
Being able to positively impact people's lives.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was younger I wanted to be able to control more of my path. I had very different goals at that time in my life - most of which involved non-sustainable career paths (like the arts).
Loving Mommy life
/To me, being successful means...
Having the time and money to do what you love. To me it is being a stay at home mom to two beautiful children.
My definition of success has changed over time.
In high school I might have said that the end result was success. Maybe a big house, nice car, the right things to impress others. Now it is almost completely about spiritual and emotional contentment.
non grasping
/To me, being successful means...
Finding contentment in what is
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to revolve more around money. Now i know having enough and loving myself is most important.
your past does not define you
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Used to value education and status over everything else
I love you because You are You!
/To me, being successful means...
feeling good about oneself and one's contribution, place and station in life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was younger (especially when I went to [high school name omitted]), I thought my life was determined by where I went to college. I found that one's professional journey is much more complicated than where one went to school and that matters less than finding things you enjoy to do, feeling good about yourself and your life. There is still a nagging urge to accomplish but I can see it is more of a story than reality.
I Never Fit the Palo Alto "Mold!"
/To me, being successful means...
Feeling inspired and surrounded by love and support. If I can lay down at the end of every day and know that I am following my heart, however hard the journey, then my life is a success.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Growing up, in Palo Alto, especially, I really thought that the only positive or desired future was one with wealth, and even some amount of fame. I didn't see another option for happiness.
Flourishing after graduation from [high school].
/To me, being successful means...
Always treating others the way you would like to be treated. In other words, following the golden rule.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was younger, I thought material possessions reflected success.
