We were lucky to catch up with Aria Song recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Aria with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
In general, I believe there are two main sources that influence our values, which subsequently shape our lifestyles and impact the actions we take and the decisions we make- 1) external sources and 2) internal sources.
Externally, my cultural and familial values were the biggest contributors towards instilling in me an indefatigable work ethic. I was surrounded by the examples that were set forth by both my immediate and distant family members, as well as the community and society as a whole, so I knew no other way. We put our heads down and did the work; no complaining and no excuses. I never felt entitled to anything and everything had to be earned.
Internally, once those initial seeds were planted, I’d generate and cultivate my own work ethic. The tree that eventually blossomed became a standard I’d set for myself that I would rarely, if ever, allow myself to fall below. This- by no means- is always easy, and I often desire so desperately to throw in the towel, especially when faced with unrelenting hurdles and challenges, but there’s an engine that was built in me over the years that’s so resilient it never stops running, even if it’s down to a mere spark.
Ultimately, both life experience and the role models I deeply admire have taught me that at the end of the day, nothing that is anything of true value can be achieved without hard work. You can always work smarter rather than harder, but both scenarios require some kind of continuous effort put in towards progression. And if you truly believe in the goals that you want to achieve or the impact that you want to have, then you will not allow anything to deter you from it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Growing up the daughter of an oil painter, I’ve always had a fascination with the arts and artistic expression, but was never encouraged to pursue the field due to its impracticality. So I turned my energy towards my second passion- athletics- and I played almost every sport I could get my greedy hands on, with tennis, basketball, and badminton being my top three favorites to play.
After a long, roundabout academic path, I finally found my way back to my dream and joy as a child- acting. In 2011, after a year abroad in South Korea completing the Fulbright ETA grant, I finally mustered up the courage to sky-dive into an acting career without a parachute. Now, about a decade later, I’ve worked with Kevin Costner (“Yellowstone”) and David Boreanz (“Seal Team”), and have had other major and minor roles in features, short films, web series, and more. My favorite genre to act in is the sci-fi physiological drama (à la “Inception”), and I am also absolutely obsessed with action pieces (“Ip Man,” “Man from Nowhere,” John Woo’s “The Killer”). My athletic experience has allowed me to work with some big players in the fitness field- Adidas, Nordic Track, Brooks, and UFC Fit, and I’ve also been very blessed with consistent commercial work. Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to voice for some of my favorite actresses in Korean TV shows, most notably for Song Hye-gyo in “The Glory,” and for Kim Hyun-joo in “Hellbound” and “Jung-E.” But ultimately, my heart lies in TV and film, where I hope to bring to screen a host of compelling characters, starting with a different kind of “strong female lead.”
Being raised multilingual and having lived in a multitude of countries, I’ve always been driven by my curiosity towards the rich fabric of the world. My goal is to explore and inhabit the corners of the human psyche through complicated characters, share limitless and imaginative worlds with the audience, convey stories that need to be highlighted, and ultimately, use any level of success I achieve to better serve society- whether through financial or artistic means.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity- Curiosity, I believe, is the root of all growth. It leads to a constant inquiry into the world around us- the myriad of cultures, sports, cuisines, musical genres, art, and the wherefores of how they all came to be. It expands our horizons but can also help us narrow our interests as we learn more about our own preferences and tastes. Simultaneously, curiosity can be turned inwards as we dive into ourselves to explore the depths and complexities of who we are, which cultivates a deeper self-knowledge. And only once you truly understand yourself, can you conquer your strongest enemy- yourself. Along the journey, try to listen more to that curious, naive child you once were and look at the world through the eyes of a newborn baby.
Courage- A bit cliche, but I’ve found it espoused so often for a reason- growth occurs outside of our comfort zones. Fear is necessary and appropriate in certain situations, but it exists because it’s a symptom of caring. We’re afraid of embarrassment, failure, disappointment, loss, and more, but in those situations, I always try to remember the latin phrase- “vivamus moriendum est”- let us live, since we must die. Nothing is guaranteed in life except the present moment, so why waste it hiding behind intangible fears? We also have to be courageous enough to face ourselves and our shortcomings and to be honest with ourselves and our true intentions. Sometimes, the person we are manipulating the most is ourselves, and confronting that fact can be absolutely crippling. Lastly, courage is necessary to be steadfast and to stand up for what we believe in, despite the deafening noise screaming otherwise. Whenever I feel fear creeping up, I take a moment to stop and acknowledge it before moving forward despite it, finding the strength through the self-esteem I’ve carefully built up.
Creativity- Throughout my journey, I’ve found that the moments when I’m most satiated are the ones where I’m being creative- whether it’s carving pumpkins or sketching Sailor Jupiter (my favorite senshi) or even finding creative shots on the tennis court. It’s a joy that rides in on a wave of ease during, and after the creative act. Additionally, creativity not only fuels my soul, I’ve found that it is incredibly useful for problem-solving. I use my imagination more often than not to figure out how to overcome a temporary setback. Having the confidence to say “I will figure this out,” when faced with an issue is an incredibly useful skill. Creativity can be explored in endless ways, so find a few things that you absolutely love doing or have been interested in learning, and try to see it from a fresh perspective or discover a new facet of it.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The Dao de Jing by Lao Zi. The text is complex and cryptic, but there is something new that can be mined from every encounter with it. Additionally, I’ve always been fascinated by how wholely the simple symbol of the yin-yang encompasses the universal law of nature- how there are two “opposite” forces that can initially be interpreted as being in competition with each other, but are in reality, truly complementary of one another. The two halves complete the whole, and in each half, there is a small piece of the other, because one cannot exist without the other. And the circle represents a constant shift, flow, and movement between the two. The masculine and feminine energies in the world, the absolutely uplifting and crippling moments of our lives, birth and death, etc. Using that as the blueprint for all of life gives me a bigger perspective and understanding of the way the world moves, removing some of the anxiety I have of wanting to control everything. In fact “wu wei” (one of the concepts in the book) is “effortless action,” something I hope to cultivate more of.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ariaxsong.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ariaxsong
- Other: www.imdb.me/ariasong
Image Credits
Chris Labadie Brown Monkeys Studio Jomar Miranda Emilee Jensen Brian Tooker
