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Today's Featured Biography

Thessaly Startzell

I am still in shock that we are coming up on 20 years!
Let's see. After FAHS I went to George Washington Univ in DC. I was studying International Politics so it was a good place to be while Dad was in the Gulf War.
I loved living in DC. Dated a FAHS grad ('88) at GWU and during law school.
After GWU I took a year off to work and get ready for law school. Lived in Annapolis, MD, San Antonio with parents and then San Diego CA with Phi. Did Law School at University of Texas. Hated law school. UT is the second largest law school and very competitive (ie there were a lot of not very nice people. :)). But great education. I survived with some really good friends and by working full time as a nanny for 3 kids. Lived with the family in a separate house on their property.
Met and married my now ex husband, Mark - a captain in the Army (helicopter pilot/engineer). Mark is a great guy. Did the officers wife thing at Ft Hood. Commuted to Dell in Austin for work. We divorced in 2000. Have now been at Dell for 11 years (my longest relationship :)). I can't believe I have stayed in one place for that long. Of course I have lived in 7 different homes in that time. I would move every year or so - just couldn't stay still. People here would not understand. Non brats don't get that need to uproot or for some of us the need to root really deep. Finally bought a home in 2005 and am still there.
I have been fortunate in my career. Will not be a surprise to most of you that I spent many years too focused on it. Have held many different positions at Dell. Ran the Dell Foundation for 3 years, Developed and ran Dell TechKnow (a sales driven afterschool program for at risk kids) and am now in charge of the Board of Directors - Board Liaison/Corp. S. I have been very fortunate to have had a corporate paying job while doing essentially nonprofit activities for 8 years. My new job (as of 2 months ago) does not have that element but I am still very engaged with nonprofits in Austin - on boards, as a volunteer and an activist.
From a personal pespective fortunate to have spent a lot of time with my family, great friends, traveling, boating on lots of live music (Austin is the "live music capital of the world"), etc. Austin has been good to me. Although I do miss public transportation - and love my frequent trips to NYC and DC for work/fun. One of my friends who does not live in Texas is quick to point out that during July & August I essentially live on the face of the sun. Yes, it gets a tad bit hot here.
I had my son, Thrace ( I know - poor kid. I wanted to name him Hayden but lost out. Thrace is actually a region in Greece near Thessaly) in January 2007. He is a complete blast. Keeps me laughing non stop. The first year was really tiring - went back to work when he was 6 weeks. Juggling him and a career at Dell as a single mom was really hard. I didn't have time for much else. Was in a leadership program for that year - between those 3 that is all I did. He is now 20 months and it is still challenging but a heck of a lot easier. Finally got back to exercising and training again.
He is great about going to school during the day (he loves his teachers and friends) and does a lot of community events with me in the evenings. Super social kid. Oh my - I love the little guy. He is amazing. :)
My brother is stationed in Germany (graduated West Point 2002) and I visited him for four days in May. It was fun but also kind of sad to visit the old stomping grounds in Frankfurt. Everything feels so different. We stayed a night with our old German neighbors and then headed to Wurzburg/Baumburg/Schweinfurt - where he lives. You can see pics, including FAHS, on my facebook page. (Liz - The ice cream place is still there in Bonamese)
Wow - this was a complete ramble of my life.

I have been lucky to see quite a bit of the FAHS crew over the years. The 1999 reunion was fun. Even though Stacy, Liz and I spent 2 hours driving around Dallas lost. Visited John S and his wonderful wife in Chicago with Skid, Spent time with Brad and Tony (during law school and the first couple years at Dell), -since they are right up the street in Dallas and have what were crazy friends in Austin. Just had breakfast with Brad last week. Skid was here for filming a movie a few years ago and spent Thanksgiving with my family. He was just here in Austin in July - we had dinner with Jenny Montgomery. Did a small reunion in Houston at Nikki's what seems like forever ago (1996)(Kim Davis has pictures on her facebook page). The Nguyen family, etc. Plus lots of other visits. There is this wonderful connection that we have - I still am so greatful for growing up in Frankfurt with this diverse and great group of people. Hope to see you all soon at the reunion. If you are ever in Austin give me a call. Thess

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