About Us > Success Stories > Lauren

Lauren

Lauren came to Lena Pope Home as a teenager, after previous adults in her life had failed her. At a young age her parents did the unthinkable: she was sexually molested by her father and abandoned by her mother. Left in the care of family friends, Lauren was treated as a servant and not as the little girl she was. Lauren’s childhood was cut short and she missed out on a lot of things, including support, direction, and life lessons. As an adolescent, Lauren ran away from home and her problems. In an attempt to forget her past, she experimented with drugs, and wanting to feel like she belonged, she joined a gang. Quickly her behavior caught up with her and Lauren was kicked out of the public school system and placed in the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, the last chance in the educational system.

Considering the trauma Lauren endured over the years, many people might assume she had lost hope; the Lauren that came to Lena Pope Home was lost, but she was also full of hope. She had goals and aspirations; she was articulate and had a passion for writing. The Home provided the guidance and support Lauren needed. Her caseworker helped her set simple attainable goals. Lauren focused on her school work; school was a safe place that she could go to escape her home life. The journey was long and rocky at times but she was consistent and persevered. Lauren continued to struggle with her past and continued to feel alone. Her current living conditions were less than desirable and she had to rely on herself to meet even her most basic needs.

Following in the footsteps of Lena Pope, the Home’s founder, Lena Pope Home acted as Lauren’s second family and supported her every step of the way. Slowly Lauren started improving in school. She earned her way back to public school, enrolled in basketball, and sought out adult role models. Lauren completed her program at Lena Pope Home knowing that no matter where she went and no matter what she did, the Home would always be waiting with open arms.