The Entrepreneurs of Lawrenceville

          The Lawrenceville School boasts an impressive roster of alumni who have excelled in their own fields, especially when considering those who founded their own businesses. On campus, many students wonder: Why should they wait until graduation to follow their dreams? In the heart of Lawrenceville’s highly academic campus, a dynamic cohort of self-starters have taken this message to heart, redefining the campus landscape with their entrepreneurial spirit. From the inception of sports podcasts to the establishment of photography studios and beyond, students at Lawrenceville are weaving a rich culture of ambition and drive. In this feature, we spotlight these exceptional students, each with a unique story of passion, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit of turning ideas into reality.

Gavin Yoon '25
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          Whether his School Meeting performance caused you to follow his Spotify or maybe you have been a longtime fan, Gavin Yoon ’25 has definitely caught the attention of those on campus. As a creator and producer, Yoon curates a sonic journey that captivates audiences, contributing to the vibrant artistic landscape at Lawrenceville. He began his journey in eighth grade when a friend inspired him to sell the musical beats he created. He downloaded a program, FL Studio, started playing around with it, and as it turned out, he really enjoyed it. He went down the rabbit hole of researching different artists and producers, leading him to where he is today. His process involves listening to a lot of melodic rap music and drawing inspiration from artists like Juice WRLD, Lil Tjay, and The Kid LAROI. He either creates beats himself or uses ones from other producers before beginning the lyric-writing process, after which, he edits his music and uploads it to different platforms.

          
          Like the other self-starters, Lawrenceville has contributed to his growth. While he does not record music at school, he does take voice lessons. Aaron Cafaro, his voice teacher, happens to be heavily involved in music production, which allowed Yoon to learn many different skills. In fact, Cafaro helped him prepare for last week’s Smeeting performance. The exhilaration of completing a song and the joy derived from people enjoying his music are the highlights of Yoon’s musical endeavors. However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Yoon navigated the hurdles of overcoming creative roadblocks and delving into the intricate realm of vocal mixing, showcasing his resilience and commitment to growth.

          In the future, continuing on this path and making music would be his dream job. He plans to release a song once a month all year, so stay tuned for new music! When asked about his advice for others, Yoon opened up about his own journey. He says not to be “scared to start something new” because “the main thing is to stop caring about what other people think and do your thing and be proud of what you do.” This advice applies to all walks of life, so do not be afraid to go after what you want, and maybe you will be featured in an entrepreneurship article next!

Aarav Parekh '25
Two Brothers and Their Sports
          Aarav Parekh ’25 is well-known on campus for co-hosting a sports podcast that has grown from a passion project to a recognized platform. Starting four years ago with his brother, Arsh, the two hosts produce weekly episodes for their podcast, “Two Brothers and Their Sports”. Their podcast not only dissects sports headlines but also features engaging interviews with notable guests. In almost four years they have released over 200 episodes and interviewed over 55 professional athletes, physicians, personalities, and more. Their podcast, listened to in over 55 countries, boasts over 60,000 downloads across numerous streaming platforms, ranking in the top five percent of podcasts based on popularity. This year, their podcast is a top-ten finalist for the Best American Football Podcast 2024.

          
          The genesis of the podcast coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, a time of uncertainty for the sports world. Aarav, then a 13-year-old, describes his goal “to provide a source of comfort for other kids his age,” aiming to create an outlet for fellow students during a period when traditional sports were at a standstill. Shedding light on the podcast’s behind-the-scenes, he explained how they spend a significant amount of time keeping up with sports news every day ahead of recording on Friday. They then record an unscripted conversation on Zoom for an hour and a half before editing for roughly 2.5 hours. They also edit interviews separately as well as sending individual segments to a radio show. The process also involves creating a description for each episode before uploading said episode to various streaming services.

          Reflecting on challenges of running of podcast, Aarav mentions the difficulty of finding undisturbed time for recording amidst a hectic academic schedule. However, he acknowledges the supportive environment at Lawrenceville, where word of the podcast spread quickly, and peers rallied behind his podcasting venture. Looking ahead, Aarav envisions a bright future for the podcast, aspiring to see it featured on major networks like ESPN or Fox Sports. Currently airing on Radio Nira, an Indian radio station in North Carolina, the podcast’s ultimate goal is to reach a national and international audience on widely recognized platforms. Aarav dreams of interviewing athletes from around the world, enhancing the podcast’s global appeal.

          For aspiring student entrepreneurs, Aarav offers this advice: “Don’t be scared to get started, make sure you have a plan, and let your creativity take control.” His journey exemplifies the fusion of passion, consistency, and community support, showcasing the potential of student-led initiatives at Lawrenceville. In his words you must “have the passion to start and the drive to continue.”

Yushi Kamisaku ’26

yk_flics

          You might have caught Yushi Kamisaku ’26 shooting pictures at a game or maybe you’ve seen him on the field; either way Kamisaku is known for his prowess with a camera. He’s a photographer whose lens captures not only the vibrant tapestry of athletic life within the school grounds but also extends beyond, reaching the broader canvas of external organizations.

          Even amidst Kamisaku’s success, few of us know the origin story of how his passion for photography flourished. Kamisaku’s foray into photography began with a hand-me-down camera from his grandmother, an avid photographer. He brought his camera on a baseball spring training trip to Florida his II form fall, not thinking much of it. The photos he took impressed his teammates, prompting him to create “yk_flics,” an Instagram account through which he shares his work. He started going to lacrosse games for photos during the spring but mostly specialized in baseball and softball. As a member of the Junior Varsity Football team, Kamikasu was invited by Coach Napoleon Sykes to take pictures at the Varsity games. That season, Kamisaku shadowed the team and his photography account snowballed from there.

          Nowadays, either specific teams or the Athletics Department will reach out to him for pictures from Lawrenceville games. His process involves researching photos for the particular sport so that he can determine his strategy and visualize where he will position himself. From there he “goes with the flow,” listening to music and interacting with the players. The Lawrenceville community played a pivotal role in Kamisaku’s evolution. He credits Sykes, saying that he “wouldn’t be where he is today” without him. Through his work from the school, Kamisaku gained exposure, even working on projects outside of School where people have reached out asking him to come out to other games or make edits for them. Recently, Five Star Graphics, a company founded by Hale Brown ’23, reached out to Sykes who referred them to Kamisaku, leading him to become a paid creator for the company.

          Looking to the future, Kamisaku envisions building a network that transcends his Lawrenceville career. His aspirations include continuing his photography journey in college, ideally collaborating closely with collegiate teams and even venturing into professional sports photography. Lawrenceville has become a catalyst for these ambitions, with connections made through Sykes and the Athletics Department opening doors to external opportunities.