Lauren Graham is no stranger to facing precipitous obstacles. The freshman put her endurance to the test this summer when she summited Mount Whitney, a challenge she calls “one of the best experiences in the world.” Graham thought she had to put business education on the back burner if she wanted to study engineering and design, until she stumbled on the Academy. Now she can pursue all her passions. Whether it’s refining her pitching skills or finding innovative advancements for bioprinting technologies, this mythology buff and line dancer is ready to reach new heights.

Talk about your journey to the Academy. What were you looking for in an undergraduate program? 

I began my college search with the intention of studying some form of computer or mechanical engineering with a minor in design. At the same time, I was telling myself that I would pursue an education in business sometime after that. So, throughout high school, I especially focused on my art and STEM curriculum because business was something on the back burner; I wanted to pursue an education in it… eventually. Stumbling upon the Academy can be easily described as fate. Not only can design be in the spotlight alongside engineering, but an education in business is no longer a notion of the future. I can’t wait to get started at the Academy.

What are you most looking forward to in the Academy? 

I’m most looking forward to getting to know my new family, Cohort 9 and faculty, for the next four years and beyond. I’m unbelievably excited to see what we will create.

What are three goals you want to accomplish during your time at the Academy and/or USC? 

Discover a new passion and find a way to blend it with my interest in prosthetics or environmental sustainability

Add to and complete the Cohort 9 bucket list

Let’s say you were miraculously provided $1,000,000 in seed funding tomorrow. What would you create?

Using existing 3D printing technologies that use stem cells to print body parts such as muscle tissue and cartilage, I would create a device that can print more complicated body parts, such as a hand. The main hurdle would be finding a way to lay down multiple tissues at once as the print develops (as a hand has a lot more than just muscle tissue). Ideally, this technology would likely be used on newborns who are born with a limb difference because stem cells would be readily available from the birth, less stem cells would be needed since the body part/limb would be much smaller, and the new body part/limb would grow and develop along with the child. To be honest, I’m not sure how realistic this venture would be at this time, but I am sure that it will be possible in my lifetime (and probably with the help of a few more investors), but bioprinting technologies have been and will more than likely continue to make incredible advancements.  

What is your proudest achievement to date? 

This summer I embarked on probably the most mentally and physically strenuous two days of my life. My mom, two good friends, and I summited Mount Whitney. After climbing for nearly 13 miles with a 6,000 foot elevation gain, camping in 20 degree weather with hail, and dealing with altitude sickness, all with 25 pound backpacks, reaching the summit was one of the best feelings in the world. Standing on the highest point in the continental United States at over 14,500 feet was beyond incredible. Overjoyed, we celebrated with other hikers but once it set in that we were only halfway done with the hike, we started the shockingly even more difficult 13 mile journey back down. The scenery was breathtaking, making the hike an even more unforgettable experience. I don’t know that I would do it again, but I would recommend it to everyone.

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you.

I have a not-so-slight obsession for Greek and Roman mythology.

What is one thing a significant person in your life taught you that you’d like to share?

Growing up, my mom always gave me the best advice and one message that she reminded me of over the past couple of years – it was that it’s okay to not be able to do everything, all at once, all the time. I always had a packed schedule between school, sports, and other activities. So, as any student would, I often felt overwhelmed. In these moments, her advice taught me to take a step back and give myself a much needed moment to breathe.

What is one skill/thing that you learned during the COVID-19 pandemic?

If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?

I’m stuck between a toaster oven and an air fryer. Both are so versatile, efficient, and are staples in my house. Maybe I would have to go with an airfryer because, in a way, it is the new and improved version of a toaster oven.

What do you like to do/watch/read during your downtime? 

My free time consists of doing activities with my younger brother or friends like going on runs, bike rides, hitting the gym, playing soccer, and going on hikes. If I don’t have the energy for those things, I enjoy watercolor painting or plowing through my never-ending list of movie recommendations. I recently loved “Interstellar,” “Whiplash,” and “Where the Crawdads Sing,” even though the movie didn’t do the book justice (it never does).

The people who surround me truly inspire and drive me. It’s amazing to see what my friends and family accomplish which is why I am beyond excited to be working alongside such motivated and creative people at IYA.

What would the title of your autobiography be?

FRESH Encounters: Lauren Graham