Prep junior Lauren Middleton has a lot of passion for taking care of others, particularly children. Lauren has been working with children for the past seven years.
“The connections I’ve made with every child I’ve taught has helped shine light on this aspect of my life,” Lauren said.
Around age 11 she began helping out with her mother with Sunday school. Babysitting her younger cousins through the years also helped her significantly draw her attention to this specific career path.
Lauren works as the aftercare teacher at St. Jude and has been there for the last two years. Lauren enjoys going to work every day.
“I feel that if I can impact a child’s life and help them learn to be the best person they can be, I then feel accomplished with my day,” Lauren said.
She loves encouraging the kids she teaches. Their kind hearts always seem to bring a smile to her face. Watching the kids at Sunday school from 3-4 years old now being 8 years old does sometimes bring a few tears to Lauren’s eyes. Watching the kids grow up is a blessing, and it’s lovely seeing their soul shine bright through the years. The Sunday school is located at Erie First Assembly of God the church that in which Lauren has been going to since she was a baby.
Lauren takes time out of her shift to teach the little ones about God.
“I feel as if the kids will be benefited in Sunday school, for they are being introduced to God and his love in his own house (the church).” Lauren said.
Lauren feels as if the kids at aftercare know that she is always a teacher they can come to that will listen and do her best to help them. Sunday school is one of Lauren’s favorite parts of her life. She loves teaching each child about God’s everlasting love. Lauren teaches the preschoolers, and each one of them have her heart. Their hearts are so big and so full of God’s love that it amazes Lauren every time she walks into the classroom. Lauren helps them to do crafts that connect to the Bible story that have been summarizing so beautifully their little minds will be able to understand it.
Working with kids makes sense because Lauren has always wanted to become a mom.
“[It’s] silly enough to say, but when I was younger I would always carry around little baby dolls and act as if they were my own children,” Lauren said.
Lauren says she wants kids in her early 20s.
Ideally, Lauren says she would want a boy and a girl. Preferably she would like a boy first and then a girl so that the older brother can look after his little sister. She’s always thought that would be a cute idea. Lauren would like to have as many kids as God blesses her with. It doesn’t particularly matter to Lauren. Lauren has always wanted to name her first daughter Margaret, and call her Mags for sure. For a boy she has always loved the name Jeremiah, and she’d call him Little J.
