LAUREN
HAEUN
KIM

"I'm not your average model. I am actually a full time ballet dancer. From the looks of my Instagram, I only post modeling photos because we're not always allowed to take ballet photos in the studios. I've trained on a full scholarship, with the San Francisco Ballet since I was 8 years old. I was able to get into the San Francisco Ballet through their scouting and dancing program. They offer this program at most of SFUSD elementary schools. Due to my high intensity training schedule, I had to graduate high school a year early. Although I lost this one year, I am able to pursue my dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer one day.

My hobby does play a role in my future, but it is more of a side factor. Through modeling, I've been able to shoot with high end companies like Nike, Fenty Beauty, Dream Cloud, and various other brands. Although I hope to continue modeling, I still consider it as a side gig, as I eventually want to pursue a career in professional dance. It's interesting to see how being a dancer has greatly helped with and advanced my modeling career."

"I am very outspoken and passionate about the natural world. And I'm not afraid nor cavalier about vocalizing the truth. The environment and wildlife are dependent on our capability to look beyond our immediate self. I am always trying to seek out opportunities to help in some way. Information and factual data can prove effective in this enlightenment, but it requires a deeper and more introspective realization to truly appreciate the gravity of nature. In the future I hope to become a central voice in this effort of exploration and connection to nature as life depends on the manifestation of an ecocentric and honest relationship with the natural world.

I'm planning to pursue a career in environmental law with interests in environment philosophy and ethics. Wildlife photography is a great way to help further deconstruct the behaviors between humanity and the non human world. Photography can trigger profound emotional responses that often literature or data cannot. It helps make nature more personable, close, and intimately connected to ourselves. I mainly employ black and white film into my photography to express this. I hope that my own work can help communicate the wonder and familiarity of nature."

"Every time I climb, it feels different. The way my body, my mindset and my fingers run is always different. Climbing to me is like a dance. I love acquiring a flow. And climbing smoothly is 10 times more important to me, than climbing sloppy. 

Rock climbing has impacted my life in so many various ways. I am beyond grateful to have many inspiring climbers and mentors beside me who can help me achieve my fullest. Not only do I want to push the limits of my future, but I want to share every piece of advice with upcoming legends. Climbing is constantly changing: the people, the style and the holds. This is what makes an athlete's life so much more complex and difficult. The climbing community will always push me and has taught me so many valuable lessons in life. This is why I continue to stick with what I do. I will follow this climbing journey until the very end."

"I do not have prejudice against anything or anyone. Personally, having an open mindset is too minuscule of a word to describe the way I view the world. This applies to the clothes I grow to wear and love. There is no way I could categorize my style because I feel like it's constantly changing and varying. This kind of mindset also applies to the type of friends I have. Each and every one of my friends have diverse backgrounds, personalities and styles. I connect with each person in a completely distinct and unique way. 

Ever since I was 7 or 8, my dream was to work in the medical field. I wanted to become a trauma surgeon and work at a huge hospital located in NYC. Currently I do not think my hobbies really reflect my personal vocations, but it's an outlet I use to de-stress. However in the future, I do hope to work in the entertainment industry someday. Whether it is to become a complex manager or some else, I have hopes to become big and famous." 

"I think what truly makes me different is how I view my clothing and style in general. Coming from a skateboarding background, I didn't originally care so much about clothes and I did not have much interest in fashion. That's changed for me, as design is now something I enjoy as I am able to make my own pieces either through scratch or reconstruction. Rather than seeing the finished product, I thoroughly have fun throughout the process of designing and constructing clothing. 

In the future I'd love to be able to intertwine my love for clothing design and skateboarding. Regardless of how much income I make, all that matters to me is if I am happy with what I am doing and creating."

"I have always loved to create things with my own hands, like Legos! I like the idea of different parts coming together and creating a whole. As a kid, my mom would always have me help in the kitchen which is how my love for food grew. Although I like to cook, there's something magical about baking. There's so much satisfaction in putting the finish touch on that tart, pulling out the loaf of bread from the oven that originally started out as a bowl of eggs, flour and butter. When I'm baking, I have a pretty diverse palate. I'm always thinking of unique flavors and ingredients that I can pair for my desserts. Ultimately, food is something I can share with the people I love. I find that the best conversations happen over a dinner, or a coffee and dessert. 

 I toy with the idea of opening my bakery later on in life. In school, I've been able to study public relations because I wanted to be a part of the storytelling and backbone of a brand. Maybe one day in the future, I'll be able to do just that with my own cafe. If not, I would love to really hone in on my skill, teach people and develop recipes. That might look like working for a food media company one day, or working with chefs. At the end of the day, I have so many ideas and dreams but my utmost goal is to glorify God in all that I do."

"In the future I want to be a dentist. I know looking at teeth, tongues and saliva all day may not sound too great. But I aspire to become one because I want to help people in some way. I've participated in medical missions, worked at dentist offices and partook in various opportunities that helped me get a better grasp at the vocation I aspire to achieve. I want to be able to help people in any situation of their lives. If I am able to contribute happiness into someone's smile, that also contributes to my personal happiness. Despite the amount of work that comes before medical school, I know I will achieve it with perseverance and patience.

My fashion style is also important to me. It makes me feel cool, collected and confident throughout my day. When I look and feel better, I feel like the day's obstacles become easier. It's a way I see myself from another perspective, and I love to take other influences that help my style become more solidified, trendy and different. This may be from my friends, or my Instagram feed."

"Rather than sticking to just one or two types of styles, I fuse them together to my own liking. I feel like my style does not fall into one type of category. By defining my fashion sense into one category, I would be limiting myself of all the possible outfits I could wear and post. I enjoy mixing different styles together and wearing different kinds of clothes because it allows me to stay openminded about myself and my style. I love the idea of playing around with different color combinations. Rather than just wearing black or white with blue jeans, I'm always trying to mix in shades of green, brown or purple. Through experimenting with colors, I can express my personality through my choice in clothing.

In the future, I hope to work as a marketing manager, consultant or editor for any fashion label like "HYPEBAE" or "MISBHV." I would be able to satisfy my desire to become involved with the fashion industry one day. I don't want to force myself to do anything that I do not want to do, just for a higher paid salary or income. I want to achieve a vocation that pertain to my interests."