The Stories That Raise Us

Motherhood is its own expression of creativity, and Lynda Pak’s creative force is unstoppable. In her four years on the Board for Girls Write Now she has spearheaded the Tech Committee, leveraged her Estée Lauder team to help build a technology curriculum, and connected Girls Write Now with Estée Lauder’s Writing for Change initiative in partnership with Amanda Gorman. Lynda’s vision and dedication have brought new resources, mentors, and experiences to our community. Her positive attitude—which she picked up from her daughter Sydney, who Lynda calls her “Sunshine Girl”—has lit the way for Girls Write Now in each stage of the organization’s growth.

Here, Lynda and Sydney share their story.

Tell Us About Your Life@GWN

I am currently on the Board of Girls Write Now. In my role, I get to advise Girls Write Now on their business plan and review their financial goals each year. I get to see how Girls Write Now operates to keep all of its important programs running.

What About Doing That Gets You Up in the Morning?

I love that Girls Write Now focuses on doing something ‘good’ and ‘for others’ especially during times when it may be difficult to think beyond oneself. It is this ‘giving’ that helps me look forward to a new day.

What is it about Girls Write Now that You Find So Special?

First, it is Girls Write Now’s mission, the focus on girls and gender expansive youth to find and use their creative voices that makes the environment so special. Then it is the incredibly passionate people like Maya Nussbaum and her team who nurture and evolve it.

What’s Your Superpower? How Does That Inform the Work You Do With Girls Write Now?

I was once told that my superpower is recognizing others’ superpowers and bringing them out. I loved this, so I’ve now adopted it as my official superpower. I’d like to believe that the way I engage with Girls Write Now is by asking questions or teasing out an idea that may not have been done before—for example, I lead my Estée Lauder Team to help collaborate on a tech-driven curriculum for Girls Write Now’s future workshops.

The Theme for Our Upcoming Anthology is “Hope Lives in Our Words.” What Does Hope Mean for You?

For me, hope is allowing girls and gender expansive youth (i.e. future generations) to stand on my shoulders so they can reach even higher to achieve anything they want, and, in turn, be able to do that for those who come after them and so on and so on. The future possibilities will be endless when we stand up for each other.

We’re Celebrating Mother’s Day. What is Your Favorite Memory With Each Other?

LYNDA: My favorite memory of Sydney is (still makes me chuckle) when she was about three-years old, she discovered the hair on her uncle’s (my brother) legs. She studied it very intently then gently touched it then ultimately pulled at it which made him squeal. We all laughed very hard when this happened which made her laugh as well. I think she figured out ‘cause and effect’ that day.

SYDNEY: I have a very fond memory of spending a day in Paris with my Mom a couple of years ago. It felt very special to spend that time with her, as I had just finished my first semester away at college. Also, I had studied art history and fine arts in high school and later in college, so it was super exciting to see all of the architectural sites and artworks that I had studied, and my Mom supported and accompanied me on that whole adventure. It was also super cool to see her show off her French!At Girls Write Now, We Uplift Stories, Including Those of People From Marginalized Genders. Recognizing How Stories Can Shape Us as Much as People: What’s a Story That Raised You?

At Girls Write Now, We Uplift Stories, Including Those of People From Marginalized Genders. Recognizing How Stories Can Shape Us as Much as People: What’s a Story That Raised You?

LYNDA: I have a good friend who I met in college who was raised in a tough neighborhood in Baltimore. He was raised by a single mom who feared for his future if he did not find his way out of that neighborhood. His intelligence and perseverance (and a lot of loans) allowed him to leave and attend a top notch liberal arts college. His story has always inspired me through tough times in my life when I needed to use my intelligence and perseverance to find my way out of the darkness.

SYDNEY: Throughout my childhood and now adulthood, I have carried with me the story of my grandparents’ (on my Mom’s side) decision to come to the United States. Many years ago, my Mom told me the story of how, in the traditional Korean fashion, my grandmother was expected to run my grandfather’s family household after they got married. However, those duties weren’t her strong suit, nor did she enjoy them, which my grandfather’s father didn’t quite approve of. But my grandfather loved her, and wanted her to be happy even if it meant rejecting tradition and, consequently, being completely cut off from his family’s monetary support. So, my grandparents decided to immigrate to the U.S. with my Mom and her siblings to pursue a life of their own design. I had always found their story so romantic, but more than that, it illuminated the beginning of a family tradition of making one’s own way in the world. My Mom carries on this tradition as a leader in a male-dominated field, and she has always supported me in pursuing my passions so that I may do the same.

Lynda, What is Something You Have Learned From Sydney?

Sydney taught me how to forgive. Growing up, I think I was always one to hold a grudge. When Sydney was about three-years old, I did something to upset her and made her cry. When I told her “I’m sorry”, she didn’t continue to fuss or cry like I thought she would (perhaps I would have done that), she looked at me with wide eyes and said “that’s ok, Mommy.” She then went along her merry way to go play with her cousins. She genuinely forgave me and forgot what she was upset about. From that day on, I made a promise to be much better about not holding grudges and forgiving others for their mistakes.

Sydney, What is One Thing You’ve Learned From Your Mom?

As I’ve grown up, my Mom has equipped me with the support, tools, and teachings needed to navigate the world, but has let me figure out how to use those resources on my own. I think that it’s necessary for parents to let their children make mistakes and figure things out, and to not only catch them when they fall, but also support the growth of abilities that allow them to stand back up on their own—this is something my Mom has always done for me, and I feel the benefits every time I need to face a problem or make a decision.

What’s Something You’ve Always Wanted to Ask Each Other?

LYNDA: Sydney has always had a positive essence to her – I refer to her as my ‘sunshine girl’. So, I’ve always wanted to ask Sydney how she is able to give off such a positive energy at all times because I emulate that.

SYDNEY: I’ve always wanted to ask my Mom how she does it all, and how she does it all so well. She’s an amazing mother (of me and my brother, and three rambunctious cats), a dedicated friend, and is constantly thriving in her professional life. I am always in awe of how she is able to excel in everything she does, whether that be mastering a new recipe or learning how to make pajama pants from scratch.

In a Few Lines, What’s the Best Book You’ve Read Recently? Why?

SYDNEY: I recently read Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, and that book really resonated with me. I’m a huge fan of her band, Japanese Breakfast, so it was wonderful learning about her music career, but more than that, I felt that she truly captured the half-Asian experience in her writing. She beautifully—and heartwrenchingly—illustrates the way food can foster one’s connections with family and identity, which is something I deeply relate to. I shed a lot of tears while reading that book, and for that reason, I can’t recommend it enough.

Is There One Thing That Instantly Makes Your Day Better?

LYNDA: getting a funny text from one of my kids on our family group chat

Are You a Morning Person or a Night Owl?

SYDNEY: I’m definitely a night owl! I love staying up late with friends and sleeping in the next morning.

LYNDA: Morning person. I do my best thinking between 6:00-7:30AM

What Was the Best Advice You Ever Received? Have You Been Able to Pass It on?

LYNDA: “If you’re going to shoot the duck, put up another duck”. It’s a little dated because it was shared with me 20+ years ago, but it means if you’re going to shoot down an idea, you need to put up another idea that is as good or better.

Coffee or Tea?

SYDNEY: I’ve been a big fan of both lately! When I was studying abroad this past fall, I did a lot of traveling throughout Europe, and there was nothing I loved more than visiting a new city and sitting in a beautiful café with a cappuccino. More recently, I’ve been appreciating a good chai or matcha latte. They recently added a “chai tea latte” button to the hot drink dispenser in my college dining hall, which has been revolutionizing my breakfast experience.

If You Could Change One Thing About Your Life, What Would It Be?

LYNDA: I wish I had lived abroad when I was younger.

When You Were a Kid, What Did You Want to Be When You Grew Up?

SYDNEY: I wanted to be an artist! I pursued this dream into middle school in high school, where I majored in Fine Art, but I found a deeper passion for Psychology by the time I reached college. I still try to engage in the arts as much as I can, and have recently gotten into embroidery.

LYNDA: I wanted to be a thoracic surgeon

What’s the Best Place You’ve Traveled to?

SYDNEY: So far, my favorite place I have ever visited is Stockholm, Sweden. The city and culture were beautiful, and the “fika” custom— taking a break for a hot drink and a treat—was wonderful to participate in. I also love sour candy, and I still haven’t had any quite as good as the Bubs candy I tried in Stockholm.

LYNDA: Argentina—spent time in Buenos Aires then some skiing in Bariloche

Can You Speak More than One Language?

LYNDA: I speak English, French (proficient conversation), and Korean (basic conversation)