Lauren is a girl after my own heart. She wanted her senior informal portraits with her pony, Smokey. This special guy is a Therapeutic Riding Pony at the Carroll County TR Program. I’m sure Smokey brings so much joy to the kids who get to ride him. Lauren told me that he’s a favorite of the kids there. We braved the cold to capture these special memories for Lauren and her parents. She’s much tougher than I am because I could barely tell she was cold in her light denim jacket. Meanwhile, I was bundled up in my hat, gloves, and heavy wool coat. Brrr!

Lauren is the epitome of a well-rounded high school senior. She’s in the band and marching band, FFA, and volunteers with the Therapeutic Riding Program in her spare time. To top it all off, she’s kind, sweet and polite. She has such a bright future ahead of her! We talked about her plans for the future and possible career paths. As you can see, she loves animals. So my guess was that she may be interested in becoming a large animal vet. She has some interest in that as well as in Biology. As long as she gets to work outside she said she’d be happy!

Lauren, you’re at such an exciting time in life! You’re finishing up your last year in high school, choosing which college or colleges you’d like to attend, and how you plan on investing your life. The career you choose doesn’t have to just be a job. It can be an investment if you make it. It can be a way for you to earn money so that you can spend as much time as possible with your loved ones. It can be a way for you to serve other people and help animals. You hold the choice in your hands. My prayer for you is that you choose to chase your dreams, no matter the “odds” of reaching them because focusing on the “odds” already puts you at a disadvantage.  The veterinary colleges out there would be crazy not to admit you! I see a lot of myself in you at your age. I held myself back out of fear of failure. I compared myself to others all too much (not sure if you do, but I sure did!). Lauren, the best graduation gift I could give you is to tell you that I see in you what your mom and dad do, a success just waiting to happen! You’re right on the edge of a huge opportunity in life, so reach out and grab it!

A girl and her horse share a special bond.

Lauren, best wishes on your last few months in high school! Enjoy every minute!