No better major than theatre to prepare for anything
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1980s
Overall high school experience
9/10. I loved [high school name omitted], where I attended the Alternative School for several of subjects. The teachers made it great.
Grades in high school
A's and B's
Favorite subjects
English, Performing Arts
Struggled with...
I did great in Math until Trigonometry, at which point I really struggled because it required memorization and hard work (and I had skated by without many study skills before then).
Favorite extracurricular
Performance Art
Life since high school
“I was a theatre major, and then a crazy thing happened: I graduated college and had to make money. I started doing publishing, design, and computer training and haven’t done theatre since. (But I use all my theater skills in the work I do now.)”
Attended college / university at
Pomona College
Majored in
Theatre Major (with emphasis on business/production)
Places lived in US
California, Washington
Places lived outside the US
One year abroad in London during college
Current occupations / past occupations
Writer, publisher, trainer, parent, designer, business owner
Industries I've worked in
- Information (e.g. Publishing, Film, Broadcast, Telecommunications, Libraries)
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (e.g. Law, Accounting, Interior Design, Graphic Design, R&D, PR, Advertising, etc.)
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Not directly, but indirectly, yes! Mostly through learning to be curious, think, write, research, work with others…
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
Absolutely: I did theatre at [high school name omitted], I was a theatre major, and then a crazy thing happened: I graduated college and had to make money. I started doing publishing, design, and computer training and haven't done theatre since. (But I use all my theater skills in the work I do now.)
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Like the old Spanish saying goes: "Salud, amor, y dinero… y tiempo para disfrutarlos!" ("Health, love and money… and time to enjoy them!")
My definition of success has not changed over time.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
The phrase "greatest accomplishment" is a problem, as there are different kinds of "great" and different kinds of "accomplishment." My two kids certainly qualify—from which I learned how to let go of what I want. Writing several nonfiction books were great accomplishments—which taught me that amazing things can happen when you set your mind to doing them.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
I'm not a big fan of the concept of mistakes/regrets; not sure it helps to see the world like that.
This alumni is open to your questions and follow-ups.
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My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
In and around the New Varsity [now closed]
