We were lucky to catch up with Eunji Lim recently and have shared our conversation below.
Eunji, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Purpose. I think it’s quite a heavy word, you know, heavy and profound.
Since I was young, I have always had a diary and written them. At the beginning of every new year, I get a new planner and write full of plans, like the promises I will make with myself this year, 10 goals I would love to achieve this year, or simple life lessons, traveling plans, etcetera. It became my ritual of the new year. So, growing up, I always have had things that I wanted to explore, accomplish, and projected image of my ideal self, which could be considered as Purpose. Following them, I plan and live every day. And I do passionately, whatever those would be. Then, at the end of the year, I reviewed the year and observed how much I achieved and made it come true. Then I wrote what I reflected, learned, or what I missed. This helped me to improve myself for a better and more fulfilling future, saying “Let’s try having more checks(✔️) of the list, next year, Eunji!”
In terms of my career, it was the same but more specific. For example, I wrote, “10 things to achieve at the beginning of 2022.” It included; 1. Winning Oscars in 5 years, 2. Having a Broadway or Off-Broadway Theatre Debut, 3. Being a lead in films, 4. Writing a play, 5. Learning Spanish 6. Teaching, and more. I stood on Off-Broadway Theatre, was part of short films as a lead, taught students Theatre in different public schools, and started learning Spanish. Dear Oscars, wait for me, it will be soon; I couldn’t get done all of them, but some of them I checked. Through life, I realized that it will not always go the way I planned and imagined. But, if you have a blueprint, you could get at least closer to it than not having it. I have to say, though, I think I am still discovering the purpose of my life. It demands time, challenges, faith to find, and people who guide & trust you.
I am a believer. So I know I have a purpose in this life — but I keep asking what it would be. I mean even small dandelions have a purpose in this world, so wouldn’t we, humans, of course, have a beautiful purpose in our lives? (Smile)
For now, my answer about how I found the purpose is to keep asking yourself questions, give yourself the best answer you can make at your moment, and try to get close to your ideal self. In the meantime, it is okay that you are still getting there.
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?
I am an Actor, Artist and Educator, working in Seoul, Korea and New York, U.S. I am a founder of DREAMA, a company for Production & Education for Arts.
When I was in elementary school, the teacher asked us to write down ‘3 Professions you want to be when you grow up’ — I was in AGONY. Because I felt like there were so many jobs I wanted to be and could be if I wanted to. Little did I know life isn’t easy. I grew up, having big dreams. If I am something, It has to be, officially & legitimately, good & perfect. The funny thing is, I still believe in this. I was the first grandchild of my maternal grandparents. My grandfather, when I was young, always told me, “Eunji, you should be a woman president, be a minister. You should chase your dream and work internationally.” He was an amazing inspiration and planted beautiful seeds in my heart. I told myself, “Whatever it would be, I will be a worldwide global one.” Influenced by him and my parents, I wanted to be a president, then an opera singer, and changed to a singer, exploring something making my heart beat. Then, I decided to be an actor at 18 years old, which was up in the air to me. I studied Acting at Kookmin University in Seoul, then I decided to study abroad in New York City, which was a turning point in my life. I got into The Actors Studio Drama School, MFA program, and received a Masters of Fine Arts, gratefully. And I also got opportunities to be leads of wonderful stories, new development works, meeting diverse audiences, and collaborating with talented artists around the world. I started building my careers, made New York Theatre Debut at The Riverside Theatre, and had productions at various wonderful theaters of New York City such as New York Theatre Workshop, Whitney Museum, Dixon Place, and more. The young and fuzzy dream of wanting to be an actor became crystal clear — and realized how much weight I have to have to be an actor and to present on stage. And how much responsibility you have to arm for the plays, scripts, characters, crews, and audiences with having freedom to joy.
I love being on stage. When I breathe on stage, I feel I am alive — alive with all the people around me. I equip myself with the grand responsibility to share a good story with refined crafts as if I were a brave warrior.
Thankfully, I have kept expanding my artistic circle internationally. I was invited to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the production of ‘The Maids’. It was one of fruitful moments of my life, letting me progress my crafts, encounter international works and inspiring artists, and brought me the award of Best Performance from the Asian Arts Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
My dream is to be an Ambassador for Arts, creating stories and exchanging them globally, and educating children who live in countries where Arts — especially Performing Arts — are not familiar, and giving them good influence & opportunities to dream. I am hoping to expand my company, DREAMA, globally, with embodying these dreams. I would love to be a human who could give someone (dreaming like me) courage, encouragement, and inspiration with Goodness and Kindness: “I am doing it, so you can do it too.”
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?
On my journey, I’ve gone through many different experiences where I could learn wisdom and refine crafts. Among those, I will share influential ones.
First is, Resilience. Through time, I was fortunate enough to fill my life with beautiful moments. In the meantime, I also had struggles and failures, which was challenging. But if I looked back myself, I was able to overcome and stand up to walk forward, because life is too short to be in sadness. This early year, I had quite a hard time — things were not going well or on the way as I planned. I was lost. One day on my way to the class, I was thinking of my life and time, feeling depressed. But suddenly, the moment of me in the subway moved through like a panorama, looking like a film — I could look at myself from the other side. Then the story flew out of my mind, I took out my laptop, and I started writing the story, which became my first film <복행:Go-Around> produced, directed, and written by me. And I am a lead role, ‘Mirae’. I gathered friends right after I finished writing, planned, and made it happen. It’s now post-production, and I’m excited to introduce my film with you in the near future. I can proudly share that I took the moment of retreating and made it into something further.
The second is Passion for Learning. I was a very curious child. I have loved learning something new; new languages, cultures, knowledge of different fields, and histories. I also realized if I learn a different language, I could share most things with people and it will broaden my cultural and historical perspectives too. Even if it’s a non-relating area with me, I always am curious about new aspects of them, because everything I learn will fill me. For my crafts, it has been crucial to have learnings in various fields. Because it is my job to present different characters with specificities, and it demands the process of ascertaining research and observation. And it’s followed by understanding and empathizing. I think as an artist, I have to be aware of how the current stream of trends is; how the world evolves, what we are focusing on, and what category or subjects are discussed. It is important to be sensitive to those things because I would be the one to represent them and share the stories. In the world of Arts, it is important, because, Arts is not limited. It is the infinite dimension where you could be, however, whoever you want yourself to be, but always with delicacy.
The last is Trusting myself with fortitude. Sometimes, it is not easy to keep trusting my dream and myself. Believing in me, telling myself, “You can do it! You’re doing amazing.” In terms of Acting, it’s an intertwined and similar journey — a constant battle with myself, trusting the process and my guts. While I was in Actors Studio Drama School, the first lesson we learn is knowing, acknowledging, and being aware of myself. I am a perfectionist and ironically It was hard at first, to believe in myself, because I just know so well about my weaknesses. But actually, through trial and error, I was becoming generous to open my vulnerability and accept that I am not perfect and I am allowed to make mistakes. It took time. Going to the States only for my dream, learning new languages and cultures, auditioning every day, making new friends and nyc-families, being part of productions, and leading the shows were possible and still are because I believe in my journey, dream, and myself.
The thing I love is challenging myself. Through challenges, I know I will grow. Most of the time, I am the type of person, who has to try by myself. I will tell my friends who are afraid of walking to the way they never have been, “You’ll never know until you try.” So, I will share the same with you.
Most of the time, we couldn’t spend enough time to consider what I deeply love and what I really want to pursue in my life. And I’ll say, it’s okay to take your time. Go slowly, take your sweet time, and find what you genuinely love. The world is HUGE, but you know what? You are one and only in this universe! Discover and build your uniqueness. Then, allow yourself to trust your journey and love what you choose.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My Mother.
She is the one who has been influencing me to be who I am now.
I grew up as the first child of my family, 6 years by myself, getting loved by all of my family. At that very moment when I could be spoiled all over the place, my sister was born, thank God. I was always a leader of the class throughout elementary school, middle school, high school, and the university as a student president of the College for Arts. When I was young, my mom always encouraged me to try. Then naturally, it started becoming something I wanted to be. Being a leader allowed me to learn the qualities of responsibility and leadership. She said, “Being a true leader is challenging, but it will make you grow and learn.”
When I faced challenges and conflicts, my mom always was my mentor, consultant, and mom. She listened, gave me solutions, and shared her wisdom. What she taught me was confidence, self-esteem, and being humble. Every challenge, she said, “You can do it, Eunji. Trust yourself.” Then, whenever I shared something I did well, she gave me compliments, but always added “Nevertheless, Eunji, you always have to be humble.”
My mom has been working for over 30 years, and it inspires me that she raised me and built her career at the same time. She became a good role model to me as a woman, a leader, and a mother. She always told me, “Find something you love and follow your dream. And dream big.” One day, she saw the newspaper, having the Broadway theater on, then she cut it, put it on the fridge, writing “The stage where Eunji will stand.” My parents have been a great supporter and the biggest fan of me — who are praying and wishing for my future. They allowed me to have opportunities and trusted my journey. Looking at them dreaming through me, I found the reason not to give up and my strength to move forward to achieve my vision. Blessed to be a daughter of my parents.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eunjilim.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamaco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eunjixlim
- Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/eunjilim
Image Credits
Hyeri Seo, Emmanuel Abreu, Nile Scott, Matt Weinberger
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
