Senior Lauren Squire on graduation and what is to come

For the past four years, Lauren Squire has walked the halls and fields of Niwot High School. In that time, she has made friends and memories that will stick with her for a lifetime.

In fact, in her advice to freshmen, she said, "Make the best of high school. It's no one's favorite time, but it's a big time in your life that you'll remember forever, so have fun."

Squire has certainly had her share of fun over the years, especially on the soccer field. Not only did she have successful games, but she recalled how for the 2019 season, a snowy start resulted in a practice where the team built snowmen together.

However, not only did she have fun on the field, but also in class and with her peers. She excitedly described how this year's senior class has grown to be more of a family rather than simply classmates. Squire also expressed gratitude toward her teachers, who, she said made a big impact on her academic career and beyond.

"I really liked taking IB Psychology and AP Biology," she said of two of her favorite classes. In fact, it is her appreciation of her psychology class that largely contributed to her decision to pursue the subject at the University of Iowa next year.

But her time in psychology class wasn't her only inspiration. After losing her father her sophomore year, she wanted to find some way to make something positive out of something so sad. "I decided I wanted to help kids who went through what I went through and be their shoulder to lean on," said Squire.

In addition to wanting to become a psychologist, Squire hopes to travel--for a long time, she has hoped to go to Africa and to see the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. In the next few weeks, another dream of hers, to see the Colorado Sand Dunes is about to come true.

"Before my dad passed away, he put the emphasis on making memories and having experiences."

On the note of experiences, Squire certainly seems both excited and grateful for those gained throughout her time in high school. She reflected on the senior football game, where she and her friends finally were able to sit in the front row. She also said that all of her soccer games were fun, and while she expressed some disappointment that she was not able to be a senior captain on the field, she's hopeful that a senior soccer game will still take place.

"This, [COVID] has shown me that I didn't hate school as much as I thought I did. It's something I took for granted," Squire explained when asked about what she would say to her peers still in school.

Squire admits that COVID did throw a wrench into her hopes for her senior year--in addition to interfering with the soccer season, she and her fellow seniors weren't able to perform at the Spring assembly like classes before her. However, even though cancelled events and online learning have created a semester to remember, she stays optimistic.

"I think it's different for everybody," she said. "[But] the one thing everybody wants is to just graduate...I think people are just trying to make sure the class of 2020 doesn't get lost, which is important."