Green Energy Engineer
/To me, being successful means...
being happy, and not living under a bridge. Optional: leaving the world a better place than I found it in some small way.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Read MoreFoothill and San Jose State, Executive Assistant, Oregon
/To me, being successful means...
Being a content, self supporting participating member of society.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It’s not about money or material possessions. But it is about relationships and experiences. Having said that I do agree with the study that establishes “happiness” requires a certain minimal income level ($75k for a family of four); beyond which the “happiness” arc flattens out.
Today is the day that God has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
/To me, being successful means...
Living and loving on my own terms, within my means in the company of beloved family and friends.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My worth as a human being is no longer defined by my work, my employer, my income, my college "pedigree," or even having grown up in Palo Alto.
how to be happy, despite all expectations
/To me, being successful means...
being a happy and productive citizen of the world.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think success was dictated by the brand names that made it onto your resume. Letting go of those expectations for myself was the most productive decision I have ever made.
De Anza, CA, OR, WA, Truck Fleet Maintenance Manager
/To me, being successful means...
Striving to do the best at whatever I do. Leading a positive example for/and watching my children grow up to be good people.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreStay strong,,,
/To me, being successful means...
Obviously being able to sustain yourself financially is one component to happiness, however the bigger part of the equation is the genuine relationships you surround yourself with. Authentic connections with family and friends become a higher level of priority as one matures!!
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreNot afraid to take risks, Writer Builds Career on Mission and Love
/To me, being successful means...
Living an authentic life where I can be myself, am appreciated for what I can contribute and where I can love and be loved.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I was concerned about how my career would afford me a certain lifestyle, based on how I was raised in affluent Palo Alto. Now I focus on how I can contribute to a mission I care deeply about and work-life balance.
From Blah to Badass: One Woman's Journey to Grab Life By the Balls
/To me, being successful means...
Pursuing a life that makes me happy. Having balance with my work life, social life, and relationship with myself. Being able to afford my independence.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think success was based on more tangible identifiers. Such as my degree, my car, my job status, whether I was still asking my mom for money. Now I look at it in a broader more wholistic lens.
GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND HASTE...
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1980s
Overall high school experience
9/10
Grades in high school
A's and B's
Favorite subjects
English, History / Social Studies, Physical Education
Struggled with...
Math. I'm just not a natural at it.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“The broader definition of success has not changed for me, but what has changed is my awareness that there are many different paths to success. ”
Attended college / university at
Brown accelerated Program in Medicine
Post-graduate education or training
Med school, internship/residency
Places lived in US
California, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island
Current occupations / past occupations
Radiologist
Industries I've worked in
Health Care and Social Assistance
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
finding fulfillment in my work, family, and relationships. I don't believe it's a static goal, but one that requires fine-tuning throughout one's life.
My definition of success has and has not changed over time.
Yes and no. The broader definition of success has not changed for me, but what has changed is my awareness that there are many different paths to success.
Anything else that you'd like to share that we didn't ask?
I'm in the unique position of being able to see my children attend the same PA schools I did. Their world is so different than mine was, and I feel so sorry for today's youth as they struggle to find their place in this increasingly competitive world. This is what I would like to tell them: Where you go to college does not determine your future. If you do go to college, try to find a place that speaks to you rather than going for the big names. Be open to detours along the way (transferring schools, taking a gap year, traveling abroad). Realize that no matter whether or where you pursue your education, as long as you work hard, apply yourself, find your passions and pursue them, you will eventually find your place. Don't get discouraged and don't compare yourself to others.
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
The old Tower Records/Swenson's Ice Cream shopping center
Musician, Teacher, Adventurer, Mother
/To me, being successful means...
A loving family, good friends, good health, financial security, a positive attitude, enjoying life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Yes and no. I believe these goals were always there, just not articulated in my consciousness earlier in life.
Still figuring things out
/To me, being successful means...
Making a positive difference in the world so that it's at least a little better when you left it than when you entered it.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My definition of success is much less oriented towards personal achievement now than it was when I was, say, in high school.
Huge changes since high school
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy with myself and where I am.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Sometimes it's hard to stick to this definition. I constantly want to compare myself to others, but this mindset is helping.
Poor Palo Alto kid harnesses lessons learned into career of social justice
/To me, being successful means...
Being financially stable doing something that makes you fairly happy doing.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think it was one or the other, financially stable versus being happy with what you are doing, defined success. Since I have come to the conclusion that it's a fair balance of the two.
Aspiring web developer, Class of '15
/To me, being successful means...
Finding a job that healthily challenges me and that I enjoy (it doesn't have to be something that I have a burning passion for), that works with my schedule and lifestyle so that I can still take care of my mental and physical health. That's very important to me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My previous definitions of success hardly incorporated failure. I avoided failure like the plague, which in turn actually inhibited me from truly succeeding. I avoided taking certain risks that would have challenged me in a healthy way, had I succeeded or failed. I now understand that failure is both inevitable and necessary to be true to your dreams and goals , and succeed.
One of the last
/To me, being successful means...
The hardest to achieve: to be truly happy and satisfied with life. It's so easy to forget what happiness is as you get older, or you remember a happier part of your life but you can't find a way to get back there. It's all about accepting and loving yourself. Once that happens you make others feel the same way about you, and themselves, and everyone's suddenly happy, and the world seems like a better place.
Success to me also means being able to trust and believe in yourself. I remember the first time I took on a project and I didn't feel anxious about how I was going to get it done. I realized that I was good enough at what I do that, even if the answer didn't come to me quickly, I could fall back on my experience to know it would eventually come if I put more effort in to it. Even when I got laid off from jobs in the past I never doubted myself that I had the skills and talent to always find work.
Lastly, success would be raising my 4 children in to adults that are successful in life themselves.
My definition of success has changed over time.
As a teen, my idea of success was to be known as "great" at whatever I chose to do in life. I would be famous and all the kids in school would see me as some kind of hero. Now, I realize who the heroes really are.
You never know what's around the corner!
/To me, being successful means...
Just staying alive...and being patient and kind, no matter the circumstances.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Success used to mean ongoing access to a cornucopia of interesting possibilities; now it means making it through another day with acceptance, kindness, and understanding.
The 60's, VietNam, corporate law, and family. Learning to say yes.
/To me, being successful means...
Having good, lasting relationships with family and friends, leading a purposeful life in which I honor the things that light me up and contribute to the lives of others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
In high school and college, I really didn't think about it much. I just knew I wanted to get a job, maybe have a family, and I was preparing for that. I really hadn't gone much beyond that. As a result, I set out on a pretty conventional path....Today, I look more at human values, relationships, and a sense of purpose. I wish that I had been a little more free, less fearful, about exploring different paths. For example, I think I might have loved teaching history at the college level.
Traditional and predictable career path; still no easy answers.
/To me, being successful means...
Finding fulfillment in whatever it is I spend most of my time doing, be that work, a hobby, or spending time with my family. Success is being happy in MY life, as it is, not as I imagined it or want it to be.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My view has shifted much more towards internal feelings of fulfillment, rather than external markers. I'm not sure that I would have identified my definition as based on external markers in the past, but as I get older and learn more about myself, I realize that that really was the standard. Graduation, grades, job title, specific tangible achievements. I am working towards bringing the focus around to my internal feeling of satisfaction.
1971 [high school] graduate
/To me, being successful means...
Leading a happy, productive life.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreBrushing my teeth and using deodorant have helped.
/To me, being successful means...
Completing one task at a time.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I hadn't a clue how many times I would fall face down and get up again. Sometimes success meant money, sometimes little or big fame, sometimes it meant getting up after feeling near spiritual, mental, or physical exhaustion.
