Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren van Oeveren.
Lauren, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Europe but went to school out here in San Diego! In high school, I pretty much focused on getting good grades but I also took a lot of art classes. I was pretty shy, and so I decided to go to UCSB for college and immerse myself in a highly social situation! I majored in biological anthropology and psychology and absolutely LOVED learning everything about people and what makes us tick. I also took on several internships that combined my love of writing, science, and art. Being able to use my creativity is a must for me in anything I do. After graduating, I got into marketing and social media. I like working in the medical and scientific fields because creating and planning content allows me to use my scientific background while still being creative. Now, I am trying to find hobbies that allow me to further grow my skills and passions.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been easy. I’ve dealt with mental health struggles, toxic situations, and financial hardship. I think that my main advice would be to stick with your instincts and what you feel in your gut. Also, don’t let fear or insecurity stop you! It can be easy to stand in your own way.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’ve been trying to find more hobbies and creative outlets through which I can express myself and hopefully inspire others! I just started a YouTube channel, laurenvan_, and I have an Instagram under the same name (@laurenvan_). On my YouTube channel, I hope to be an advocate for various topics and issues and also to provide a bit of light in people’s lives. I use comedy to address various topics and I get really real about my own experiences. I think that what sets me apart is my authenticity! I have been really working on accepting myself and learning to just be “me.”
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
My belief is that you can do anything you set your mind to! Sure, there are inherent struggles and some of us may have more barriers in place, but perseverance can go a long way. I think that women can and should achieve whatever they want to. With kindness, creativity, and tenacity, you can create opportunity for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lvanoeveren1996.wixsite.com/website
- Email: lvanoeveren1996@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenvan_/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gymnast96Pink/featured
Image Credit:
laurenvan_
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