This month, we’re thrilled to highlight Lauren, who is making a significant impact through her VISTA service with Juntos, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering high school students and their families. Before starting her VISTA journey, Lauren completed her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, earning a B.A. in Psychology in December 2023. After taking some time to reflect on her next steps and having a conversation with a former coworker who had served in the VISTA program, Lauren decided to apply. The timing couldn’t have been better, and now, through her service, Lauren is making a real difference in the lives of students across North Carolina through Juntos.
Stationed at North Carolina State University, Juntos works across nine counties in North Carolina, providing high school students and their families with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to ensure high school graduation and improve college access and attendance rates. During her service year, Lauren’s role at Juntos has evolved significantly. Lauren has contributed to various areas of the organization, including evaluation, social media, and assisting the assistant director. Most recently, Lauren has been working with the team to prepare for Summer Academy 2025, the organization’s biggest event of the year. The Summer Academy will bring about 150 Juntos students to North Carolina State University for a week in June, offering them college and career development opportunities and a chance to connect with their peers. It’s a major undertaking, and Lauren is excited to be part of it.
Looking back, Lauren is most proud of her personal growth throughout her time as a VISTA member. Coming into the role with few expectations, Lauren says she has has grown tremendously, both professionally and personally. Lauren has developed key skills such as being self-motivated, adaptable, and determined. Most importantly, Lauren is proud of the work she’s done at Juntos, seeing firsthand how passionate the staff is about their mission and how that passion translates into making a real difference in the lives of the students they serve. It’s been incredibly rewarding for Lauren to witness the impact Juntos has on students’ confidence and aspirations, expanding their possibilities in both career and higher education.
After her service year concludes, Lauren is excited to take the next step in her academic journey. She plans to attend Marymount University in the fall of 2025 to pursue an M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology. This field has long piqued her interest, and she’s eager to dive deeper as she makes the move to the D.C. area. Lauren has made a lasting impact through her VISTA service, and as she looks ahead to graduate school, there’s no doubt that her passion for helping others and her drive for personal and professional development will continue to guide her to new and exciting opportunities.
Read more about Juntos at NCSU here.
This blog was written by Alice Chesley-Akhtar with information and support from Lauren Calaminci.