Senior Spotlight: Lauren Sandberg

Embrace every opportunity. Join one of the athletics programs, participate in a club, run for student council, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone on TEA trips. Create your own opportunities, too, because TEA gives you the space to do so. Start a new club to further one of your passions or advocate for something you want to bring to the school community. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, both from your teachers and peers. Stay positive on TEA trips – even the moments that seem the worst are meaningful and educational. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, connect with your classmates from the very beginning. You’re probably going to be stuck with the same people for 4 years so you might as well learn to love them as soon as you can.

I’m going to miss the people. I’ve loved having such close relationships with both my teachers and classmates at TEA. I’m going to miss all the fun we had on TEA trips. I’m going to miss hiking, kayaking, camping, rafting, waterfall-jumping, swimming, exploring, hot-springing, mountain biking, cooking, and skiing with my class.

As a young student, Lauren was always passionate about the environmental climate crisis facing our planet. She had grown up with the idea of how our planet was facing an existential threat due to climate change, and failed to see much action. It was a problem that seemed insurmountable, but Lauren was determined to do her part in finding solutions.

Lauren chose to focus her research on seaweed as a sustainable solution to the negative effects of climate change. She wanted to explore how this seemingly insignificant plant could be used to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet.

During Lauren’s senior intensive trip, she was fortunate enough to work with experts who shared her passion for environmental conservation. They showed her how seaweed could be used to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, provide habitat for marine life, and even be used as a food source for humans and animals alike.

Their research was inspiring, and Lauren was grateful for the opportunities they provided to see their work up close. It was a chance to see how science and innovation could come together to solve some of the most pressing problems of our time.

As Lauren continued her work, she was excited to share what she had learned with others. She hopes to inspire people to take action in their own lives to fight climate change, whether that means reducing their carbon footprint, supporting sustainable agriculture, or advocating for policies that promote environmental conservation.

Lauren believes that we all have a role to play in the fight against climate change, and she is confident that by working together, we can make a difference. Seaweed may be just one solution, but it’s a promising one that deserves our attention and support. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.

“It seems like yesterday we were dropping our bubbly little girl with the sweetest smile and bouncy blonde hair off at preschool. Lauren, you have a certain curiosity about everything around you. We admire your dedication to learning, leadership and excellence. You relish the chance for a challenge or an adventure, are accomplished yet humble, are kind hearted and fun. We have cherished every moment of watching you grow up into the beautiful person you are – inside and out. You bring so much life to our family with your many talents, positivity and love. It’s time to soar and we can’t wait to see what path unfolds for you at college and beyond. Here’s to the next ‘time of your life’, Lauren! We love you! Mom, Dad, Caroline, Noble, Goombay & Dreamy”