April 4, 2005
By Roland Hu, USD Media Relations
When Lauren Kazarian first stepped onto the Alcalá Park campus three years ago, she had no intentions of playing collegiate tennis. She was burned out from the junior circuit and just wanted to have a normal college experience. However, when injuries decimated the women's team Kazarian's freshman year, head coach Sherri Stephens begged her to come and help out the team. Not only was she inserted into the singles line-up, but the 5-4 right-hander has played an integral role for the Torero program ever since. Now a senior, Kazarian has occupied the No. 1 doubles position with Jenny Brown and the No. 2 position in singles for most of the year. Before the Oregon match on Saturday, April 9, the Fresno, Calif. native sat down with Roland Hu for a Q & A session.
1. How did you spend your summer?
I spent the summer at an internship with Ernst & Young, an accounting firm in San Diego.
What did you think of your internship?
The internship was good. I learned a lot and it was good experience. I got to work with a variety of people and I got to audit a bunch of different companies.
What was your favorite part of the internship?
My favorite part of the internship was meeting all the different people. Working closely with people from different companies, being able to work with CEO's and CFO's of different companies.
What was the worst part of the internship?
The worst part wasn't even that bad. It was just the commute. I had to work in Carlsbad a couple of times for a while, so that was really the only bad part of it.
So sitting in traffic for an hour or so...
Yeah, for about 45 minutes.
So did you find any good radio stations along the way?
I did - 95.7, country music, and 96.5, easy listening.
Did you go on vacation at all?
I spent a few days in Orlando, FL, which was a part of the internship. It was a leadership conference where all the interns throughout the country and from different parts of the world got together.
Did you get a chance to go home at all and spend some time with your family?
I spent just a couple of weeks at home so I was able to visit my family.
Did you get in a lot of tennis while you were working?
You know, I hate to say it, and I hope Sherri doesn't read this, but I wasn't able to play much tennis at all!
Too tired from the workdays?
Oh yah... some of the days I put in... I actually put in two 16-hour workdays and they just worked me to the bone. I worked so hard everyday and so many long hours, there just wasn't enough time for tennis!
2. So you have a twin brother named Charles who also attends USD. What was it like growing up with a twin and also attending the same college?
Growing up with a twin brother was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me. He's not only been a close brother, but he's one of my closet friends. He's always been there for me and we always played together growing up. He's a wonderful guy, so kindhearted, always have a smile on his face. I always look to him for support, not only on the tennis court, but also with everything I do in my life. He's been a wonderful part of my life.
When you were making your college decision, was it a conscious decision that the two of you would attend college together or did it just happen?
Our older brother Andrew graduated from USD three years before we attended USD, but it was a school we both wanted to go to. We were both familiar with the school and we had both been visiting our older brother for four years, so it just happened that we were going there together. I don't regret, he doesn't regret it. It certainly has brought us closer. We are both happy with it.
So I also understand that when you first got accepted to USD, you didn't plan on playing tennis?
I quit tennis for three years, when I was 16. I did not play at all. I quit NorCal, I quit high school, I quit nationals. I didn't play at all, which was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. So when I started USD, I hadn't played any tennis in a long time. But when Sherri called me in the Spring [of freshman year] and wanted me to play, I hadn't hit a ball in three years. I went back out there and picked it up like that. It really didn't have an effect on me.
Were you hesitant to play at first because of the long lay-off?
I wasn't hesitant because of the lay-off. I was hesitant because I didn't know if I wanted that big of a commitment in college. I knew I could play on the team. There was no doubt. Even though I hadn't played in three years, I knew I could do it and I knew I was a good player. It was more of the commitment that made me not want to be on the team.
 The 5-4 senior quit tennis for three years before she joined the Toreros in 2002.  |
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I would say that being on a team, being able to be a part a Division I team, was, and still is, a great experience. In junior tennis, it was all based on individual results. It was just you. That's what pushed me away from tennis in the first place. The fact that coming to and playing on a team, I think that's what made me want to play. I had people rallying around me. I had the support of my teammates. I'm a very competitive person and I like to play one-on-one, but in the end, being supported by eight other girls is a great feeling. Just the bonds that I've made with these girls... I'll be friends with these girls for years, there's no doubt.
3. If you could have three people over for dinner, who would you invite?
I would invite Andre Agassi because I'm his No. 1 fan ever since I was born. He's the greatest man alive in my opinion. I met him two years ago and I was just in awe. The next person would be Condoleezza Rice because she is a powerful woman in politics and in the government. She's earned her way in a male dominated profession and she's proved that a woman can do a good job in that field. And the third person I would say would be my grandfather, who I never got to meet. He died when my mom was 20 years old. I know from stories that he was a wonderful man.
4. You're a senior now and you're about to graduate. If you could choose to do anything in the world, what would it be? I would probably travel around the world. I would want to travel to all the different countries, meet all the different people, learn about all the different religions and all the different races in the world, and just interact with a variety of people, to see what it is really like outside of the United States, outside of this little bubble in San Diego that we live in.
Where would be the first place you would want to travel to?
The first place I would travel to would be Armenia. I am 100% Armenian and I still have distant relatives back there. I think it would be a great experience to see where my ancestors are from and see what Armenia is like.
I understand that you have a job lined up next year. Could you tell me a little bit about it?
I have a full-time position at Ernst & Young. I start September 7th and basically I will be doing audit work. So I go out to different clients and perform audits for them.
Is that an area that kind of interests you? Is that what you majored in?
My major is in accounting and Ernst & Young is a great place to start. It's one of the Big Four firms so there's no other place I'd want to start at than at a Big Four firm.
Eventually, what is it that you would like to do, career-wise?
Ideally, I'd like to stay at Ernst & Young for five years, make manager, and then open up my own CPA (Certified Public Account) firm. I want to get my CPA and I'll work on that this summer even before I start working. So possibly open up my own firm or I might actually go work for my dad and take over the family business with my brothers and cousins, though that's a long shot.
What's the family business?
My family is into farming, Circle K Ranch. That's our family business. We grow peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes...
So what would your role be, if you decided to go back?
I would be in charge of the financial side of things. I would do the books, I would work the entire financing side. Anything that has to do with money, I would probably be in charge of that.
5. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I would want to be able to be gone and reappear somewhere else in a second, to be at one place at one time and then snap my fingers and then be at another place.
What would you use it for?
I would use it to get away from people and visit somewhere else.
6. What hidden talents do you have that no one really knows about?
I play the piano. I played the piano for about eight years. And I'm quite a good singer. Not many people know that, but I can carry a tune.
Any aspirations for American Idol?
Being on American Idol would be great, but I don't know if the world is ready for me quite yet. I think I would need to finish my career on the tennis courts and the possibly work my way towards a singing career.
7. So these days, it seems like the networks are popping up with all kinds of new reality TV shows. What reality TV show would you want to pitch to the networks?
I would pitch America's Hottest Twin and they don't have to be identical, they can be fraternal. My brother Charles would definitely be on that show!
Do you watch any reality TV?
Just a little bit. I used to watch American's Next Top Model and just a little bit of American Idol, but not much of that... I'm not big on reality TV, to be honest with you.
8. What is the best restaurant you have been to in San Diego?
The best restaurant that I have been to is Mister A's. I went with my family and two of my friend's for my parent's anniversary. Good food, wonderful views of the city.
What type of food do they serve?
Seafood, steak... basically anything you want. But the best part of the restaurant is the view. It's got an amazing view of downtown and it's up on a hill so you can see the ocean. It's gorgeous.
What type of food do you like?
I could never turn down a nice steak. I'm a huge steak fan. I like Mexican food usually and Armenian food, of course. It's delicious.
What type of food is Armenian food? Is it meat-based, vegetable-based...
It's meat-based. We eat a lot of lamb and its very similar to Greek food. I love going home for that reason. I have my family cook me Armenian food all the time.
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