Lauren
University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles
Universities:
B.A. in International Relations & Spanish 2012; M.A. in Social Sciences and Comparative Education, 2021
Degrees:
SAT Verbal, Humanities, Spanish, College Advising
Expertise:
Los Angeles, CA
Location:
“Remember that just because something is, doesn’t mean it can’t change, and just because you haven’t seen something before, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible."
-Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Chain-Gang All-Stars
The daughter of two Los Angeles educators, Lauren was destined to take school seriously (whether she liked it or not). She earned a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from USC before crossing enemy lines to get her M.A. in Social Sciences and Comparative Education from UCLA.
In the years between her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Lauren lived in Bilbao, Spain, where she ate her way through the Basque country while studying Spanish, Basque, and the fine art of “pikoteo”. Along the way, Lauren taught in classrooms across a variety of cultural settings. As a teacher, Lauren focuses on sharpening students’ critical thinking skills and helping them understand how learning in the classroom can help them navigate the chaos of being human, particularly in the age of digital distraction. Lauren has received numerous academic and professional accolades, ranging from Magna Cum Laude to "Most Likely to Learn a Volunteer's Life Story."
Outside the classroom, Lauren can be found dancing, reading, hiking, or indulging in her greatest skill - napping - with her dog, Homer (who is far better at it than she is). She firmly believes that most of life’s problems can be solved with good food, great conversation, rich laughter, or, when all else fails, a bear hug.