Lauren Smith

My name is Lauren Smith, I am 24 years old, and I am from Charleston, SC. I am currently an assistant in a Title I Pre-Kindergarten classroom in New Orleans, Louisiana. I have been in New Orleans for 2 years now, and I love everything about it. Before moving here, I attended Belmont Abbey College, and majored in Educational Studies. I suffered from a severe sports injury and was forced to change my major senior year, and stay an extra semester for field experience. Before The Abbey, I attended Ashley Hall, an all-girls private school from age 2-18, where I graduated from in 2010.

I believe I am a great fit for the honor society because I am unlike most people who are looked at for honors programs. When I was younger, I struggled in school and had to have a lot of help from teachers and tutors until middle school where I began to flourish. In high school, I was a person who has to study in order to achieve good grades, considering I went to a very academically challenging school. My time at Ashley Hall prepared me for college, as well as the rest of my life, and I thank God and my parents every day for blessing me with the opportunity of attending the school for so many years. While at Ashley Hall I was in many clubs such as Spanish Club and Red Choir, as well as all types of sports such as: swimming, volleyball, basketball, cross country, and track and field. I was a three sport athlete from 6th grade until my junior year of high school when I chose to stick with one to focus on for college. Sports were an outlet for me from my rigorous academic life, as well as a "teacher" of time management before and after my sporting events had begun or started.

At The Abbey, I was on Dean's List both semesters if Junior and Senior year, after recovering from a severe sports injury my sophomore year. I missed about a month and a half of classes and had to make up for it all in a year, and I took an extra semester for field experience. I was able to walk in May with my class, and receive my diploma the following December.

While at The Abbey, I ran cross country for 2 years, and ran track for 4. I held 4 school records and still hold 2 at the school. Also during my time at The Abbey, I worked at the Boys&Girls Club for 2 years, at the YMCA for 2 years as a lifeguard, and volunteered coaching a track team of both boys and girls from the ages of 4-15.

I am a very spiritual person. I believe that everyone has their own individual spirit that watches over them, and everyone has a special relationship with their own God. I talk to and serve mine in any way that I can. I have been an altar server in Charleston, SC since 2nd grade, and now I serve on holidays when I return home. For the past 2 years I have been a lector at the Saturday evening masses.

I believe I am the perfect candidate for honor society because I am a fighter, I am strong, and I persevere to get what I believe I deserve.