Emily Hooks shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Emily, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I bought my dog a backpack! Not one that HE wears, but one that I can wear HIM in (:
I absolutely love hikes and road trips and for a while now I’ve been worried about taking my dog, Pippin, on longer and more involved walks/hikes. He’s a Corgi and tries his darnedest, but eventually, sooner rather than later, he gets a bit tired. I didn’t want him to miss out on any sightseeing and adventures so, a backpack just felt like the natural solution. My partner and I recently took it for a test run by going for a day trip to Big Bear and it was a success! So, there will definitely be more adventures from here on out (:
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Emily and I am an Asian American Actor from Southern Illinois.
Along with Acting, I also do Audio Description Narration amongst other VoiceOver pursuits and make music for myself on the side. If I’m not auditioning, on set, in class, in the booth, or with my guitar or keyboard, I’m usually at the gym, a concert, or out and about exploring with friends, my partner, and/or my dog, Pippin (:
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
There was a time when I was in a relationship that ultimately eroded everything that I thought I knew about who I was, what I deserved, and what I was worth. All of it was broken down and wiped away only to be rewritten by a hand that wasn’t my own. Things that I can see now as malicious, manipulative, and abusive all in the name of power and control, unfortunately, were not so clear to me at the time. Once the relationship ended and I was left to sift through the rubble, I wasn’t sure if there was anything from that time that I wanted to take with me. Honestly, I wanted to bury everything that version of me was who could be so naive as to not believe what was being plainly shown in front of her. But that was the hurt talking. The anger. The rage. The blinding confusion. The justifications.
Over time though, as I would marvel at the remains, I felt it get easier. I was able to slowly rebuild what was once broken and start to get to know this stranger who was looking back at me with the help and support of loved ones. They helped me see objectively. They helped me see ME objectively. Together, we held a mirror up and saw clearly what was looking back. Strength. Resilience. Confidence. Love. Compassion. Whimsy. Things I once thought I’d lost… things I once thought would only bring punishment… I had thought that spark went out, but instead, it merely dulled to embers to survive and came back roaring. It’s been raging ever since. Thank goodness, I was wrong (:
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I want to say that every fear I have that has held me back can probably be linked to and be classified somewhere under the umbrella of the fear of being Seen. It feels exposed. It feels raw. It feels like jumping without a safety net.
As a kid, I had dreams of being a rockstar or an actor, but I remember whenever I got the chance to audition for the wintertime school play as Mrs. Clause in Elementary School. I knew how I wanted to play it in my head, but I choked. I accepted defeat, along with a role as one of the reindeer, but cursed myself in the bathroom when no one was looking.
I suppose you could also throw fear of failure/rejection and fear of success in the ring, but the fear of being seen feels more accurate these days. To be honest though, the fear of being seen comes up far more often than I’d like, but it’s manageable. One breath at a time. I’ve tried reframing it to see the fear almost like a tool. A tool to recognize what matters to me. What I care about. Almost like the fear is simply trying to tell me something. There wouldn’t be fear if there wasn’t something at stake, ya know?
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief that I’m committed to would be to have and hang on to hope. With so much happening everywhere, it’s easy like breathing to get enraged, overwhelmed, exhausted, discouraged, and numb… For lack of better words, sometimes having hope can be difficult, but as some of my favorite quotes from my favorite comfort watches say…
“I have found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay” – Gandalf the Grey – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
“…There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.” – Samwise Gamgee – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Though the quote from Gandalf only appears in the movies, it’s truth rings true. They remind me that no action and no one is too small. That every spot of kindness is never wasted. That it sends out a ripple where you may never get to see where it ends. To not give up. To remember humanity. To have hope.
Sometimes you can find it in art, your community, or even in your internal compass of right and wrong, but it can always be found.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
The experiences had and shared. The feelings leftover from time spent with strangers, acquaintances, friends, and loved ones. The conversations. The stories. The impact or lack thereof. The joy. The love. The dreams. The hope. (:
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emilyahooks.com
- Instagram: @emilyahooks
