Grateful for childhood in Palo Alto; ready to move on
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
2010s
Overall high school experience
9/10. I had a fairly good time in high school. I learned how to work hard, and I felt very fortunate that my teachers were amazing and very passionate about their subjects. I definitely think high school allowed me to mature and prepared me for college.
Grades in high school
Mostly A's. Straight A's.
Favorite subjects
English, Foreign Language, Math
Struggled with...
I struggled with computer science the most, and I believe it was because it was so different from any other subject offered in school.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“I always thought my “dream school” was Stanford. There was no question about it; it just was - my dad had gone, it was close to home, and it was prestigious. So when I got rejected, I had no idea what to do. I really had to reconsider what I wanted out of my college experience.”
Attended college / university at
MIT
Majored in
undeclared as of now (class of 2020)
Places lived in US
California, Massachusetts
Current occupations / past occupations
Mentoring middle and high school girls in STEM projects
Industries I've worked in
- Information (e.g. Publishing, Film, Broadcast, Telecommunications, Libraries)
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
Yes; growing up in Palo Alto, I always thought my "dream school" was Stanford. There was no question about it; it just was - my dad had gone, it was close to home, and it was prestigious. So when I got rejected, I had no idea what to do. I really had to reconsider what I wanted out of my college experience.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
doing things you love.
My definition of success has changed over time.
As I reached high school and older, I realized that success, to me, was more about being happy and productive than about wealth or fame.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
My greatest accomplishment is probably making it this far. I learned that things which don't turn out the way you want might actually give you greater opportunities later down the road. I learned that when things go wrong, they usually aren't as bad as they seem - and that things tend to work out. I learned that building strong relationships with people around you is invaluable.
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
Kite Hill
