Southwest Tech Spotlight: Lauren Graber
Southwest Tech Spotlight: Lauren Graber
Even at a young age, Lauren knew that she wanted to spend her life helping others. She dreamed of growing up to be a firefighter to prevent people from getting hurt. As she grew older, she decided running into burning buildings might not be her thing after all, but she still wanted to help people.
Lauren graduated from Mineral Point in 2013. All four years of high school, Lauren played volleyball, softball, and basketball. She loves to be active and challenged. She also helped her mom run an in-home daycare. She developed a deep compassion for helping children.
“I have a great family and they mean everything to me. When I see people who aren’t as lucky, it breaks my heart. I want to make their life better.”
Lauren’s mom had graduated from the Food Production Assistant program at Southwest Tech and had loved the experience. When comparing colleges, Lauren took her mom’s advice and decided to give Southwest Tech a try.
“Having small class sizes and being more than just a number is important to me. I knew that I would get the one-on-one attention I wanted here.”
After graduation, Lauren plans to continue her education by utilizing one of the many transfer opportunities offered at Southwest Tech. She would like to become a social worker in a rural area that helps children and teens who have been through difficult times.
“I want to know that I have helped in a way that makes someone’s life better. The classes I’ve taken at Southwest Tech have really opened up my eyes to how drug and alcohol abuse affects a person’s body. They’ve also taught me how to ask the right questions and to encourage people to open up, so that we can resolve the issues they are facing together.”
With March being National Social Work Month, Lauren is especially motivated to continue toward her goal of becoming a social worker to bring about positive social changes and improve the lives of individuals and families.