My name is Lauren Woodhouse, and I was raised in Rockford, Illinois, by two hardworking parents who always stressed the importance of higher education. When I was preparing to graduate from high school in 2019, I dreamed of moving to Washington, D.C. to study politics, but my financial reality didn’t align with the offers I’d received.

Determined to keep moving forward in a way that honored my goals and values, I joined AmeriCorps NCCC as a Corps Member and was later promoted to Team Leader at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After my AmeriCorps service, everything finally fell into place, and I fulfilled my dream of moving to D.C. alongside my sister and my mom! I began waiting tables downtown at The Old Ebbitt Grill while holding onto my hope of continuing my education. It wasn’t until two years into living here that my sister happened to walk past Trinity one evening and encouraged me to look into it (Thank you, Sydney!) I went to an information session fully expecting to have my hopes extinguished once again…but instead, Trinity’s extraordinary generosity paved the way for me to soon call myself a college graduate! Even typing that brings tears to my eyes! During my time here, I maintained a 3.9 GPA, spoke at the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, spoke at a Trinity event in front of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and served as a Global Governance Fellow with Citizens for Global Solutions. Trinity made it possible. 

After graduation, I have no intention of slowing down. I plan to continue my education and follow in my mother’s footsteps by becoming a nurse. Inspired by my global affairs curriculum, I hope to specialize in humanitarian nursing, serving civilians in conflict and disaster zones worldwide. Long term, I hope to return to my home state of Illinois and run for public office. 

I am so incredibly proud to be a Trinity alumna and thank you to everyone who made it possible!