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 MoreBYU-Mom-2 degrees-Utah
/To me, being successful means...
Finishing what you start.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreA winding path from STEM to the arts
/To me, being successful means...
spending my time bringing joy, health, reflection, and peace to myself and those around me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think being successful meant becoming the top of whatever field I chose, and it wasn’t enough unless I became famous and rich. And I only ever thought about it in a career-context, not about love, family, community or anything else.
Straight outta Stanford
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1990s
Overall high school experience
6/10
Grades in high school
A's and B's
Favorite subjects
English, History / Social Studies, Science
Struggled with...
Visual arts (issues with dexterity) computer science (hard to think in a linear way)
Favorite extracurricular
Community Service / Social Activism
Life since high school
Attended college / university at
Stanford
Majored in
Biopsychology
Post-graduate education or training
Masters of arts in general psychology
Places lived in US
California
Current occupations / past occupations
Research, caregiving, volunteer tutor
Industries I've worked in
Nonprofit
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Yes
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
In 9 years and 11 mos it will. Upon retirement I will embark unto a second career.
A little introspection...
“Marriage. I learned compassion, understanding from multiple perspectives and forgiveness. I learned that love is a give and take.”
To me, being successful means...
contentment with life, past, present, and future.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It shifted from a superficial worldview to one that was deeper and richer.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Marriage. I learned compassion, understanding from multiple perspectives and forgiveness. I learned that love is a give and take.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
I regret not relying on my own intuition more when making decisions.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
Trumps presidency. It seems that after that everything went downhill in politics.
My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto
Lake lagunita
Left for 9 years and came back to Palo Alto
/To me, being successful means...
finding meaning in the way I live my life, and the blessing of experiencing a wide range of positive emotions along the way.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It's not about money and prestige anymore.
Left for six months and never came back
/To me, being successful means...
Being able to take pride in what you've made of your life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Although the core of my own idea of success hasn't changed, it has been a difficult and continuing struggle to keep my sense of accomplishment separate from parental expectations. You'd think at 40 it would be easier to look your parents in the eye and not be sorry for having chosen a path that doesn't involve marrying a person wealthy by inheritance or profession in order to secure a pampered and indolent life for oneself and one's offspring, but...in my experience, parents don't change. I had to build yourself the protective space I needed to keep myself from wishing I had never been born.
A Writer, obsessed with truth, resisting retirement
/To me, being successful means...
To achieve what I set out to achieve, while making enough money to not have to worry, and being able to help others who have not been so fortunate.
My definition of success has changed over time.
In my youth, I assumed money would automatically accompany good work. It does not. It must be consciously pursued.
Stanford, now Law School, California
/To me, being successful means...
Engaging in work that is meaningful to you; work that you feel makes a positive impact on others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think my work or position as a "successful person" could only be so if there was a tangibly measurable output.
I love oak trees in the hills
/To me, being successful means...
Loving life and being able to encourage and provide for others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It is less of a material target and more of an attitude or state of being.
Work hard, worry less, and enjoy the ride.
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to focus mostly on academic and financial success. But that matters less and less as you get older. Success as happiness (a measure that comprises love, friendship, leisure, good and interesting work, etc.) is my focus now.
Geek, to Designer, to Consultant, Fire Dancer, & Coach
/To me, being successful means...
Having enough money to live, having a decent savings account and investments, and doing a job that I'm passionate about.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreLiving - and redefining - your own dream
/To me, being successful means...
doing work that is meaningful and having a caring family and circle of friends
My definition of success has changed over time.
My definition of success was to have EVERY element I dreamed of. I now understand there are sacrifices and compromises. There is going to be some suffering along the way, but that doesn't mean you did something wrong.
You are water; find where your downhill is.
/To me, being successful means...
Living a life that you truly believe in. Feeling like you can justify your life decisions to yourself (and not worrying about justifying them to others).
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to define success relative to other people, or inferred it from what others told me (with and without words). In particular, I valued self-sufficiency, high achievement with low effort, physical perfection, and charisma/influence over others.
My best decisions flowed from curiosity, not fear
/To me, being successful means...
Having the freedom to do what seems interesting to you.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreI feel like I'm living a fairy tale.
/To me, being successful means...
being happy, feeling accomplished, and staying afloat.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo love another person is to see the face of G--. (From Les Mis, though I am not religious)
/To me, being successful means...
Feeling that my life has meaning and being truly calm and happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Less focused on attainment of specific accomplishment milestones.
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.
"May you live every day of your life." - Jonathan Swift
/To me, being successful means...
A happy and satisfying family life, a career that is intellectually satisfying and financially sufficient, health and contentment.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreWhat do you believe is important?
/To me, being successful means...
making a difference in other people's lives without requiring credit (even though credit may be due).
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreEcosystems and art
/To me, being successful means...
Spiritual bliss. Knowing yourself.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to care more about external measures of success like career. I still do but it's less pointed. I give more credence to the inner experience while worrying less about others' opinions about career tracks. Nonetheless, I do notice that how people see your worth does depend on external measures.
