Alumni – Graci Kim

KRISTIN ALUMNI

2021 Alumni Reunions

Kristin’s Alumni network continues to strengthen, supported by a growing community who are part of KristinConnect, our exclusive online networking platform for Kristin Alumni. Our reunion events and social media engagement have also galvanised our community, who continue to stay connected to their teal Kristin roots beyond school.

KristinConnect has proven to be invaluable when restrictions surrounding COVID-19 have prevented us from coming together in person for reunions. Over 900 Kristin Alumni working in a vast variety of fields and locations across the globe are embracing the platform – connecting and supporting one another via KristinConnect. It’s a fabulous resource for our recent graduates in particular, who can lean into their Alumni network as they navigate next steps and look to move away from home for study or other opportunities. Kristin’s supportive Alumni network is ready and willing to support our students as they journey beyond school.

Our reunions in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were a highlight of our 2021 Alumni events programme, and provided a wonderful opportunity for some of our most recent graduates to come together to reminisce and support one another as they forge new pathways after Kristin. Our special guest hosts were crowd favourites: Carl Murray in Dunedin and Mark Haslam in Wellington.

We’re looking forward to a busy Alumni events programme during 2022, culminating in our Auckland ‘Mega’ Reunion in November – a combined 2021/2022 reunion event (following the cancellation of our 2021 Auckland reunion) – which is shaping up to be our biggest yet!

Victoria Morris

ALUMNI MANAGER

KristinConnect

THE ONLINE NETWORK FOR THE KRISTIN ALUMNI COMMUNITY RECONNECT

Reconnect and stay in touch with fellow Kristin Alumni

GIVE BACK

Find a mentor or offer to mentor other Kristin Alumni

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ADVANCE

Advance your career through Kristin Alumni connections

www.kristinconnect.nz

THE ONLINE NETWORK FOR THE KRISTIN ALUMNI COMMUNITY

KRISTIN ALUMNI – BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Graci Kim

Graci Kim, Head Prefect from the Class of 2004, is a dynamic force – a bestselling author with a background as a diplomat for the New Zealand foreign service.

Graci’s debut novel: ‘The Last Fallen Star’ is book one in the Korean mythology-inspired trilogy published by Rick Riordan Presents, is a New York Times bestseller, as well as a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for “Best Middle Grade & Children’s Book”. Graci’s ‘Gifted Clans’ trilogy has also been optioned by the Disney Channel for a live-action television series!

Graci inspired our Year 7 students recently when she visited Kristin to speak, sharing stories from her early years through to her fascinating varied career and becoming a bestselling author. She talked about how aspiring to always be brave and curious has guided her decisions and how she chose to focus on being positive when facing challenges.

The students loved hearing from Graci and asked many questions including how she stays motivated, how she overcomes writer's block and how she overcame some of her challenges. There was a message for everyone in Graci's presentation: One situation has two outcomes, which path will you choose?

Graci was kind enough to share some more of her story and reflections with us:

“When I graduated Kristin in 2004, I thought I knew exactly where I was headed. Kristin’s motto of “Progress with vision, integrity and love” was deeply instilled in me, and I wanted to put that into action through a career in diplomacy. After all, what greater service was there than representing my country?

The decade or so I spent as a diplomat included some of the most exciting years of my life. I got to negotiate wine trade agreements in South America, lead initiatives on women’s economic empowerment in APEC, help in the post-earthquake effort in Christchurch, and even walk down the red carpet. I got to see so much of the world, learned languages for a living, and lived in beautiful places like Taipei and Beijing. But when I wasn’t working, I was restless. Somewhere deep down, there was a small voice willing me to stop—to consider whether I was, in fact, progressing with “Vision, integrity and love”. Kristin taught me to strive for excellence. Was I doing justice to my vision? Or had my vision changed?

Then one sunny day in Beijing, I was told that without emergency surgery within the following 24-72 hours, I would go blind. In the proceeding months of darkness, as I recovered from surgery, I was forced to truly stop. And the little voice inside me began to grow.

“Have the integrity to listen,” it urged. “Do the thing that makes your heart sing.”

The voice was mine—but from an earlier time, before exams and adulthood and the pressure to achieve became too loud. And when I lent an ear, I learned that my heart sang its loudest song when I put my pen to paper.

Growing up, I didn’t see kids who looked like me in books. We were invisible. And I wanted to be part of the movement that put us on the page. Because everyone deserves to be the heroes of their own stories. Our voices deserve to be heard too.

My first novel was a failure. But I kept writing. And the day I found out I was pregnant, I got my first book deal with Disney. Now I write full time, and my books have become bestsellers, won awards, and been optioned for TV.

My journey is still not over. Writing is a privilege, and the path is windy and tortuous. But for now, my heart is full. I pour myself into my words because I now have an honest vision of my purpose. I dedicate my days, with integrity and love, to the kids out there for whom representation matters. And I have Kristin’s values to thank for that.“

For more information, visit www.gracikim.com