'It's Where You Belong'

I first met Maria, this week's contributor, when I interviewed for my first job as an editorial assistant at Entrepreneur magazine. I worked there for five-and-a-half years, developing friendships not only with my cohorts (as detailed here) but also with the editors who I had quite a few things in common with, including a love of U2.

I've run into Maria at several U2 shows, which is always so fun. The last time I ran into her wasn't at a U2 show but at a port-o-potty prior to the start of an outdoor screening of "Pretty in Pink." I was there with some friends and she was there with some other editors I'd worked for at Entrepreneur. It was a great surprise to see them all there and gave me the perfect opportunity to ask them to contribute to this project.

A few months after I started at Entrepreneur, Maria had her son, Henry. Since turning 35, Maria had another baby, her daughter Anna. She also quit her job at Entrepreneur, started a business, bought a house and has run lots of half marathons. In that time, her mom moved closer.

Your name (first name and last initial) Maria H.

What year did you turn 35? 1999

Where were you living then? Belmont Shores, California

What were you doing then (working, going to school, raising kids, etc.)? Working at Entrepreneur, married to Mike H., trying to get preggers with Henry

What big personal milestones happened when you were 35 (got married, bought a house, moved to a new city, started a new job, etc.)? Succeeded in getting pregnant

What major events happened in the world that year? End of millennium, Euro established, Clinton acquitted for impeachment, Columbine, Napster, JFK Jr. dies

What are your favorite memories of being 35? Living in Belmont Shore, running by ocean, Gray the cat, finding out pregnant with Henry

What did you like best about yourself at that age? Fit and thin, lots of good friends

What did you like least about yourself at that age? Too worried about getting pregnant

What were the biggest lessons you learned at that age? Patience

What were the biggest misconceptions you had about being 35? Thought I was chubbing up

What was the most surprising thing about being 35? Still fun and young

If you could go back to that age knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? Not worry so much

What advice can you offer to other 35-year-old women? Enjoy being young