Kelly Kaufman:
CLASS OF 1978
Monte Vista High SchoolClass of 1978
Whittier, CA
Hillview Middle SchoolClass of 1974
Whittier, CA
Ceres Elementary SchoolClass of 1972
Whittier, CA
Lindsey SchoolClass of 1972
La mirada, CA
Hadley SchoolClass of 1967
Whittier, CA
Kelly's Story
Life
We've 2 large dogs (1/2 Border Collie, 1/2 German Shepard) for 'kids'. Since moving to Colorado to be with my husband, I've learned to ski and gotten spoiled. I still look goofy, but one day hope to be a challenge to him - he telemarks. Okay, so he broke down and got us some snowboards... I thought I was too old for this stuff. I gave it a try and found there are some creative ways of falling (head over heels, heels over head)... It will be difficult to live any where else now.
I just love Colorado, the mountains, outdoors, nature. Since moving here, in addition to skiing, I've climbed a 14-er (how Colorado folks refer to mountains over 14,000 ft.), rafted, bicycled, golfed. Even doing kempo karate for the first time in my life! I'm used to dramatic changes - used to be a city girl before (lived downtown LA and Manhattan... loved cultural things like museums, red wine, operas...effete things)! We also are doing 'karate' (kempo style) and I'm almost a brown belt... it'll be a while before black belt happens. The last 3 years, I've been paddling on a Dragon Boat team with my company. This last year, was the captain and we won 2 races out of 4. I'm lucky I'm doing this at my age.
Prior to this, I was living and working in New York City for nearly 8 years as an artist. My last 'gig' was having a studio in the World Trade Center on the 91st floor! I thought to myself then, "I'll probably never be in a situation like this again - being able to make art while looking all around Manhattan from so high above!" I didn't realize what that would come to mean...that it would be impossible as the bldg. would no longer stand. While exhilerating, I'm also very thankful the residency was completed/finished the year before 9/11. I pray that those whom I met during the residency (security guards, workers) were able to get out safely. With all that drama, and since my father passed away in 1999, I closed up my ties to NYC and reprioritized my life and started to think more about family.
Although, I meandered a bit (I'm a late-bloomer), my life has been rich and rewarding... many experiences, some dramas, many loves, much sadness, etc...the only regret was probably my last 2 years in high school... kind of blew off academics/studying for partying, trying to go against the ...Expand for more
stereotype of studious Asians and basically underacheived.
I sort of made up for it later and got back on track, went to college (UCLA - B.A. and CalArts - MFA); got a research fellowship to live in Germany for a year (Hamburg and later Berlin).
Those were my single and creative days - more or less a free spirit - living and travelling how, when and where I wanted - not wanting to participate in more conventional ways. Boy, have I met some characters along the way.
Now, I've 'finally' settled down (hahaha) and it's a challenge to be responsible and content. I still laugh alot.
School
Biggest crush in HS was on a couple people, I don't feel comfortable naming right now (maybe, later) and I made a big fool of myself...
Loved my English classes...
Most things I'd do again, especially with some of the folks/friends I did it with :)
College
Like they always say, college will be one of the best memories... academic freedom, self-motivation (hahaha, what are exams and papers), challenges, intellectual stimulation... also had a great boyfriend who hung out with me and who later applied himself and went on to become a professor in ethno-musicology.
I remember certain luxuries (that one really appreciates afterwards) - seriously - like actually having time to sit down, read and talk all night to peers. Dabbling in all kinds of unique/exotic subjects: Javanese gamelan, Balinese dance, music & dance of Ghana, Japanese Court Music. After an Anthropology course, I got so inspired and when the opportunity came up, I travelled to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea!
My thesis involved a performance which made the school's headlines (and later appeared in some magazines) by challenging an art dept. I had a dream... because my childhood was in the 60's (protest and change) and attended college in the 80's! I really felt like I contributed to some change in that moment.
Workplace
Okay - time to edit this. I have a new position within the same company that has more growth potential. My department develops the company's employees (from the workforce to the executive leve), we provide training in a variety of ways. It's challenging in a good way and because we "grow the people that grow the company" the work seems less mundane. I feel fortunate to be where I am.
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