Blog
Lauren’s Success
Lauren is a 21-year-old single mom who inspires all who have the privilege of meeting her. She works full-time at a local daycare and goes to college part-time. She became a client at LFCS over 3 years ago when she found out she was pregnant with her son. At that time, Lauren was in her senior year of high school.
At first, Lauren was devastated by the idea of becoming a teenage single mom. She began to reach out into the community to find support. That is when she found Lutheran Family and Children Services. Lauren searched out resources because she wanted to give her child advantages that she never had. Lauren spent time in foster care as a child and never had the emotional or physical nurturing that she needed.
As a result of her childhood experiences, Lauren understood firsthand the isolation and devastation of living in poverty. She used the anger she felt from the past to fuel her focus on getting her education and creating a better life for herself and her son.
As a client of LFCS, Lauren was able to get assistance with rent and utilities on several occasions which allowed her to meet her goal of maintaining a safe home for her son. She also received counseling, baby supplies, a mentor, tutoring for the ACT and help with applying for Section 8. Lauren has always been very independent, but is open to getting help when a need arises that she cannot overcome alone. That ability to be resilient, to accept assistance, advice and learn from past mistakes has become the foundation for her success.
This outstanding young woman is an example that adversity can produce amazing outcomes when we invest in young people who want to create and change their life circumstances. Not only has Lauren changed her life through her persistence, but also the life of her son. She is an excellent role model for her peers and always takes the time to share her story when it will help others.
There are many young parents like Lauren, who can make the changes needed to triumph over their circumstances if given a hand up, not a hand out. They need to be given the tools to finish their education which will give them hope for a better life for themselves and their children.