Training for Adventure: Kristin Mabry

Kristin Mabry, Class of 2013, San Dimas, CA

What are you up to? I’m currently living in California. I road tripped here from my hometown, Watertown, CT in 2018. I’m a personal trainer and nanny as well. I am working hard every day to grow my own personal business in personal training in hopes to be a successful entrepreneur that allows me to travel the world and take work with me wherever I go. My aspiration is to inspire others to feel empowered to be their best selves physically, mentally, and emotionally.

How'd you get here? I came to California because my boyfriend lives here and we were doing long distance for a while. I decided to make the move when I felt like it was ready to take the next step. I also also dreamed of living in California and it all seemed like a dream coming true. ALWAYS trust in your journey, through the good and the bad. God works in amazing ways and everything happens for a reason, don't rush it.

What are your goals? Ah jeez, I have too many! I plan to be successful as a health and fitness coach sharing my passion for helping others around the world. I have met some INCREDIBLE people along my journey that helped me become better every day. I also want to travel the world, have a healthy and happy family one day, and to open my own gym (way in the future) once life settles down after adventure,

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? RELAX. Things don't need to be planned out. You never know what life will throw you way and it's important to enjoy each day and live in the moment. Don't rush growing up, it's not as free or fun as you may think. Looking back, high school was one of the BEST times in my life. I wish I enjoyed it more rather than wanting to get out so quickly. You only have these moments and days ONE time, so soak it in and ENJOY.

One Small Step for a Man, One Giant Leap for Watertown: Clive Arlington

Clive Arlington, Class of 1955, Fairhope, Alabama

What are you up to? I'm 80 years old, retired and enjoying the good life on the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay.

How'd you get here? After graduating from WHS, I joined the United States Air Force and received training as an electronic technician. I worked as a technician for 2 years in my 4 year stint. I started as a freshman at the University of Florida in 1961, graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. Hired by Boeing to work on the Apollo program at Kennedy Space Center - eventually selected to the launch team for Apollo, SkyLab and Shuttle programs. You likely saw me at the console during those televised launch activities. 

During the Shuttle days I worked for Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) and was sent to work on projects in Texas, California, Denver, Colorado and New Orleans, Louisiana - eventually promoted to executive management before taking an early retirement in 1993. I worked for the next 17 years in the IT business with two small companies. Retired (for the fourth) time in 2010.

I'm married. The youngest of my two sons passed away in 1994. Brian lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. His 3 children (my grandchildren) live in Phoenix and Tennessee.

My classmates at WHS will likely recall me as the shortest, most mischievous young man in our class. Having emigrated from England in 1950, I still had a British accent that I used to my advantage.

What are your goals? I knew in my Junior year at WHS that I wanted to be an engineer. When my employers began grooming me for management, I recognized my lack of training in that area and attended graduate school at night finally receiving a Masters in Management Science from TCU in 1971. At the age of 40 or so, reaching a healthy and comfortable retirement was my goal. I am there, although it took longer than I had hoped.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Find the proper combination of humility and self-confidence as you progress in your career. Treat others as you would want to be treated and don't forget where you came from.

This photo was taken after the successful launch of the first Shuttle on April 12, 1981. Immediately behind the guy numbered 25, you can see a man in a dark shirt leaning over behind the console. Directly behind him is Clive. Clive is wearing a white shirt and tie and there is a guy to his right in a white jacket with his right arm held high.

Finally Sharing My Story: Colleen Murphy

Colleen Murphy, Class of 2009, WTN -> BOS -> FLO -> SF -> CLT

What are you up to? I recently made a dramatic change in my life and moved from San Francisco, California to Charlotte, North Carolina (I’m always down for an adventure) so that I could kick it with one of my favorite humans and my high-school sweetheart, Chad. After 5 years of being apart, we reconnected via e-mail. Soon enough, Chad flew out to visit SF last November and we’ve been back together since. 

When it comes to my career, I feel like I have a ton going on right now. I’m the lead creative on the marketing team for a tech company in San Francisco. My employer allowed me to work remotely from North Carolina. Since I work from home, a lot of my day is spent on the computer designing, meeting via Skype, or e-mailing. Working from home is a love/hate relationship; it can be so lonely that I talk to my plants but it also allows me to have a flexible schedule and to travel more often.

In addition to my full-time job, I run TOWN Mag. I started working on TOWN in January of 2016 but it’s been an idea long before that. I had been sitting on the idea since college and with the support from some creative Watertown friends, I started doing the work. I love being able to combine art, design, technology, and social impact. I want to give back to my roots and include everyone in the conversation; everyone’s story truly does matter. 

I’m also teaching graphic design and photography to amazing high schools students at Behailu Academy here in North Carolina. My main goal is to use my creativity to make positive change and inspire others. I’ve always been interested in social change and activism, and now more than ever I’m determined to create community, teach empathy, and use my skills to shed light on certain causes, whether it be through photography or graphic design.

How'd you get here? It’s a long story. I am so lucky, I feel as though I’ve lived a lifetime in my short 25 years on earth.

In 2014, I graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, MA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and a minor in photography. My overall university experience was eye-opening, expensive, interesting, inspiring, and nomadic. Northeastern has a program called COOP and my career experience bleeds into my college experience. Throughout the past 5 years, I’ve lived in 4 different cities, 2 different countries, I’ve worked for 4+ companies, with so many different job titles. I worked for Reebok as a photography and graphic design intern. I worked in Florence, Italy as a European tour guide/intern for a travel company. I nannied, freelanced, and worked at a daycare. I pedicabbed my way through senior year, giving rides to people in and out of Fenway during Red Sox games.

After graduation, I applied for 150 jobs in San Francisco, my next destination. All rejected. I decided to move to SF anyway. I nannied until I landed a design job at a start-up electric bike company. Pretty soon I was riding around San Francisco photographing an electric bike. Then, all of a sudden - bam! The love of my young Watertown life shows up at my door in San Francisco after 5 years of being apart. My philosophies and values started to shift. Fast forward a year later and here I am, living under the Mason Dixon line, learning to love, with my career fully in-tact, figuring out what is coming next.

I think these past couple of years I’ve felt the most confused and rejected. It has been a crazy ride. There have been such high moments like launching TOWN, or learning to ski in Lake Tahoe, or riding an electric bike down the Las Vegas strip. I’ve met amazing people from all over the world; from Kazakstan to Colorado to Florence (shout out to all of the inspiring friends I’ve met). But I’d also be lying if I said that it’s all roses and rainbows all the time. There are low moments too, like feeling completely alone on a snowy Boston night, or having coworkers who are complete bullies, or having a crazy roommate constantly threatening you with lawsuits. Would I trade it? No way. This is what makes life so fantastic and interesting. I’m always learning so much about myself and the world and I’m extremely lucky to have these opportunities, even the "low" moments (I've been really lucky and haven't had "lows" like some people have).

Throughout it all, Watertown has been my roots and support system. My parents have helped me financially and emotionally, and for that I am grateful and privileged. My friends from home remain as important to me as they did 10 years ago and although we have followed extremely different paths, we still know we're townies at heart.

What are your goals? I want to do everything. It’s kind of scary because it’s hard for me to really decide what I really want to do. I’m confused! First and foremost, I’d like to find a city that I really want to live in for longer than 1 year. I am interested in activism and social impact, and I’m thinking about going back to school for education, political science, or art. I also want to be a photographer for the New York Times or National Geographic. I want to hike in every country and I want to live in Japan for at least 3 months. I also have a few business ideas that focus on art, social impact, and international travel. For now, I’m riding the wave. Since I don’t know exactly what I’m destined to do, I’m following my heart and standing up for what I believe in and trusting the universe will show me the way.

Advice for WHS Students?  There are no rules or limits in life, only consequences. You can do whatever you want. There are, of course, steps to be taken to get where you want to go, but as long as you have an end goal in sight, for years or decades, you can do it. If you are determined and focused, you can do whatever makes you happy. If you are confused about what makes you happy, be patient, it will come. If you feel like money limits you on doing what makes you happy - don’t let it. Save your money for your goals and only buy things that you need.  If you feel like nothing really matters, you are kind of right. We truly are just floating in space. But a great teacher and friend of mine once said, “Nothing really matters. But why not make it matter?” 

If you could have a superpower just for today, what would it be? TO FLY.