Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Powell.
Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After high school, I waited a semester to get myself together. I hadn’t gotten accepted to any schools and I wasn’t emotionally or mentally ready to start school. Those few months before I began college in December of 2016 were eye opening for me without any of my friends. I had to discover what I want to do. Many people would ask me “well what are you going to do?” and I would just look at them, shrug my shoulders and say “I’m not sure.” Adults would be so confused with my answer but I felt like they didn’t need to know my business or why I wanted to go about my life this way. One of my friends, Peyton, came to visit me and told me about UNT and I was totally down to get away from my small town in south texas.
I moved to Denton a few years ago to start school at The University of North Texas. During my time at the dorm, I hung out with on the art floor where my hometown friend, Peyton lived and met some super dope people! I ended up moving into with two girls that I had met and I started doing some photoshoots around the DFW area. For the time being, I absolutely adored doing them and was introduced to a large community of creators and artists. After a few months, I realized that my mental health and emotional well being were being compromised because of it. I was being compared to others and felt as if who I was wasn’t enough. Slowly I began to separate myself from it and began a journey of my own! I love art and I have my roommates to thank for surrounding me with an overwhelming amount of creative energy and encouragement that inspired me to start creating.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh boy. This has been FAR from smooth sailing. The spring /summer is always the hardest for me. I found myself rarely leaving my apartment, stressing myself out to the point of throwing up, rarely eating, and crying every day. I was so unhappy following my separation from the DFW photography network and I needed something to ground me. My roommates at the time, Madeline and Morgan, would draw all of the time and it really intrigued me. I, of course, was not an artist but they told me that it didn’t matter. They were the most supportive and understanding. I decided to take up journaling in a tiny notebook that I used to make my grocery lists. Journaling and doodling helped me organize my thoughts and release the feelings inside me. I would always feel like I was slowly chipping away a time bit of my sadness one step at a time with every word I wrote. It felt and feels so good to me.
Please tell us about work.
I love being surrounded by my friends and people who care about me. Friendship and love are very very important things to me. I cherish my friends and their experiences. I believe in them and they believe in me. We are all going through this bullshit and nonsense called life so it’s relieving to find people to care and support you. Finding those people has been difficult but I’m so grateful for those who have stuck by myself through all of the dark times.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m not sure I have had a ‘proud moment’ yet. I’m proud of myself for surviving through and getting out of bed in the morning so I guess I would say every day is a proud moment for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: imagine_lauren
- Twitter: imagine_lauren
Image Credit:
these are all pictures i have taken of my friends and myself 🙂
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