Money isn't everything
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
5/10
Grades in high school
A's and B's
Favorite subjects
Math
Struggled with...
Science - I hated the teachers
Favorite extracurricular
Government / Civic (e.g. Mock UN)
Life since high school
Attended college / university at
The George Washington university.
Majored in
Majored in psychology
Post-graduate education or training
Took continuing education through Davis extension for an accounting certificate
Places lived in US
California, District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)
Current occupations / past occupations
I'm currently a senior internal auditor at a Credit Union. I've been anything from a teller to a branch operations officer at a CU as well.
Industries I've worked in
- Retail Trade
- Finance and Insurance
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
No
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
I started working at a CU right out of college so it hasn't changed much. But I went from a retail sales aspect of a CU to operations to audit.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Being happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think success was based off money and position within society/job. I look at it now as a feeling. You are successful if you are content with the stage in life you are at without comparison to others
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
My greatest accomplishment thus far has been my son. I learned patience and a new focus on what is really important in life.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
My biggest mistake/regret was defeating myself. In high school and college if I felt like I was going to fail at something I made myself fail on purpose. I wouldn't go to class or wouldn't do the homework. That way I had an excuse for when I failed. It took me a while to realize I was doing it. But I learned that it only made me fail when I didn't have to.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
My parents divorce wasn't unexpected in the sense that they didn't get along for as long as I can remember but the timing of it (right after I graduated) wasn't foreseen. It taught me that sometimes relationships don't work but staying in them for the wrong reasons isn't good for anyone. I can remember seeing my dad for the first time after he moved out. He was so much happier.
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
Cafe Barrones