Valerie Rushanan:
CLASS OF 1978
Marlborough High SchoolClass of 1978
Marlborough, MA
Valerie's Story
Biggest surprise? I'm not only working in business (as opposed to academia or fine arts), but enjoying it. But it's not a surprise that I'm doing something involving foreign languages in my career, and something with music for my primary hobby.
After being a French teacher (yes, did my Junior year in Paris!), technical translator, and technical writer (with a few other twists and turns), I've combined it all. I now work in a translation company, teaching technical writers how to write more usable content that is translation-ready. I lead large editing projects using this method, which I help develop with my boss, one of the best-known leaders in the translation industry. I enjoy that creative aspect of my job, and I could never do a job I didn't believe in. What I do helps clients produce better information products and save a lot of money when the content is translated. Everyone wins.
I always thought I'd get married, and I did. Twice. Happily divorced and happily remarried. My husband is a mathematician and works for a government think tank (works on defining the world's GPS infrastructure, among other things). I'm amazed by that, though I never was good at math, I at least understand a little about more types of math than I otherwise would have.
Someone once asked what hobbies my husband and I share. Not much, really. His main hobby is playing board games. He hosts a serious group at our place once a week, and goes to gaming conventions for a total of 25 days a year. What we do share is values. After my divorce, I decided to start this relationship with all the tough questions about life. The fact that he was willing to discuss them was already a good sign.
Another surprise? I have a family. I was undecided until I was in my 30s. We have 2 great kids. Our daughter is 13 and is very good at everything academic. She likes dance and art and friends...Expand for more
. Our son is 10, and does about 5 hours of fencing lessons a week. He's very dramatic. Both kids have been taking piano lessons for just over a year and are doing extremely well. Our son is especially glued to the piano. I speak only French to them since birth. They go to public school and take Spanish, and also take a French lesson for bilingual kids once a week after school, so they can learn to read and write in French.
Definitely not a surprise is the fact that music is my thing. After playing several types of clarinets in concert bands for many years, I am finally doing what I enjoy most - singing. I always sang rock and show tunes, but in my 40s I discovered jazz - and that I could sing it.
My interest grew after performing at an open mike night with some friends at a technical writing conference, and getting encouragement from them. At these annual conferences, I've sung "RESPECT" (yes, soul), "White Rabbit" (yes, psychadelic rock), and backed up my tenor friend on "Nessun Dorma" (yes, opera). Guess I have to mention I did "Big Spender" (in a floor-length, low-cut, red satin dress with fishnets, a black feather boa, and white opera gloves) when the conference was in Las Vegas.
I've been taking voice lessons for a year and hope to perform at the Acton Jazz Café, and maybe give a couple small concerts at my house, as time permits (busy job, 2 kids, home renovation projects...). Most of what I sing was written before I was born. Idols: Duke Ellington, Keely Smith, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Janice Hagen, Peggy Lee. And a smidgin of Mae West ;-).
The one thing I regret is having been too shy in high school. So how do I hope people remember me? The girl who could speak French and play several instruments, I guess. But evidently after two husbands, giving birth, and performing in that get-up in Las Vegas, I've gotten over the shy thing.
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