Lauren
“To have a good friend is one of the highest delights in life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings.”
—Anonymous
How we met
This is a woman to whom I feel bonded at my very core. While our friendship has only really blossomed in the last few months, I feel a deep kinship with Lauren. She is the kind of friend that when I was struggling to finish the project rallied as many as she could and in fact, Lauren is the main reason why I surpassed 116. I owe the portraits of Dani (her sister), Cailyn, Joanna and the second Emily directly to her. I am also grateful to her for encouraging Lillian and the first Bec to be a part of the awesomeness. I’ve never met anyone quite like Lauren. Her zest for bringing out the best in others is unquenchable and nothing is too much for her. I just hope she knows how much her tribe adores her. Thank you for always asking me the hard questions, thank you for making me realize the things I need to work on and thank you for always making sure I am being my best self. You do you!
Get to know Lauren
To you, what is the best part about being a woman?
One of the greatest things about being a woman (as well as sometimes one of the worst) is that I can express my emotions. I can laugh, I can cry, I can be silly and still be considered a woman.
What are three words that you’d like to define yourself with?
I want to be defined as intelligent, kind and brave.
What would you tell 13-year-old you?
Honey this won’t be forever. You’re going through a lot of downs right now but I’ve been in that hole before and I know you can get back up. Have courage and remember that although others will be cruel to you, it’s always better to turn the other cheek and not hold grudges.
What are your three most overused phrases?
You do you, YOLO and don’t tell me what to do.
How do you define success?
I always see success differently each time I achieve it. Sometimes it is not breaking down when times get hard, sometimes it has been being the smart person in the room, sometimes it’s been me getting acknowledgement from someone I work for and admire. Mostly, I see success as being able to continually improve upon the last time I did something.
What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?
There is never any excuse for bad behaviour, which comes to my most important lesson that I do not deserve to be treated badly because someone else is suffering.
“Strong, powerful, un-compromising women. Women who are smart and kind and don’t apologise for who they are.”
What is the first concert you attended?
I think it was Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business Tour when I was 14!
What, to you, is the most pressing issue women face?
I am super blessed to live in a first world country so my answer reflects my privilege. I think the most pressing issue women face is the toxic gender roles, especially toxic masculinity. Men who are taught it is bad to be like women mean that women and men are forced into rigid and antiquated roles. Men don’t cry. Women can’t do maths. Women are hyper-sexualised. Boys will be boys.
What are your favourite quotes?
Be the change you want to see in the world.
What are your guilty pleasures that you shouldn’t feel guilty about?
I am trying to learn that my guilt pleasure of terrible movies and TV is a good thing. Bad Movie Club has really helped me enjoy it more thoroughly and publicly.
What have the men in your life taught you about being a woman?
I have learnt how it is okay be strong just as much as it okay to be weak. The men in my life have struggled to express their emotions, like when they are sad. I have learnt that being sad isn’t being weak, and in fact my dad cries a lot more now and I love him all the more for it. I love that it took him some time but his emotional growth has turned it into something I am incredibly proud of for he is stronger for it.
