School's Out - Senior Profiles 2003

Name: Lauren D.

School: Mounds View High School

Activities: Friends, Lacrosse, being a Wyld Life leader, Youth Group (sometimes!)

Favorite TV Show: I barely watch TV anymore, but I guess it'd have to be Friends.

Favorite Movie: Anything Disney!! Haha, and I'm not just sucking up.

Favorite Music Artist: I swear this changes significantly from month to month...I like everything, but the everlasting faves are John Mayer and Lifehouse.

Random Fact/Story about Tommy (funny or serious): Tommy (and Sarah, of course) took me on my first trip to Disney World, and it was amazing!!! Oh and I am Tommy's hair colorist :)

School Next Year: Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA)

Biggest Accomplishment in HS: Oh geez that's a tough one...Looking back on the past few years, I am just really happy with where I've made it to and how I made it here. There were so many times I could have screwed up just huge, not that I've done everything right by any means, but I'm just thankful that I've had such an awesome support network of friends and mentors to keep me headed in the right direction.

Most Important Thing Learned in HS: Attitude is key...yes homework sucks and teachers suck and rules suck and blah blah blah...but if you find positive stuff to focus on and enjoy, the rest becomes a lot easier to handle. Friends are essential...my memories of high school have practically nothing to do with school, and everything to do with the people I shared them with. As excited as I am to move on to the next walk of life, I've recently realized that things are pretty darn good right now and I need to just enjoy it while it lasts. Life is just so much better when you're not wishing it were different!!

Favorite Memories in HS: Having fun in the summer!! just all the random times of hanging out, Tuesday nights and trips with youth group, Senior Stable at bball games, dances.

Advice To Underclassmen: Work pretty hard for the first 3 years of high school...senior year is made for slacking! haha but seriously...make school a priority because once you're applying to college, you'll regret it if you didn't. And when you are thinking about where to go to college...take a risk! "Life is change, growth is optional--choose wisely." Have fun with friends on weeknights, take a day off when you need one. Don't be concerned with what people think...as clichéd as it may sound, be yourself!! And stick with people who love and support the real you. Make smart decisions...you won't regret it; God will honor you for honoring Him.

Have You Had The Same Friends All Four Years: That's a definite no...I've had a few significant changes of friends. My first couple years I was friends with the people I'd known since elementary school, but people sure changed a lot by the end of sophmore year, and it became really hard for me to be around people who were so different from me. That's when I really bonded with everyone from youth group and we were basically inseparable, so my entire junior year I was hanging out with church people, which was more fun than I've ever had in my life and exactly what I needed at that time. This year I've started hanging out with a group of people that I've always known but never been all that tight with, and it has been incredible. We just have an awesome group of people who Know the Lord, which is just so rare in high school, and the strong friendships I've formed this year have made such a difference for me and just totally made me happy!

Goals For The Future: As of now, I hope to graduate from PLNU with a major in nursing and a minor in Spanish, and live and work in California. But ultimately...I just want to seek God and follow His direction for my life!