By: Sumru

Lauren Sichel is fun, often laughs and giggles, and a very comfortable, easygoing person. She is a humanitarian and a very big animal lover. She is smart, and very hard working. She is a strong believer in getting a good education, and, that all things happen for a reason. She speaks with no tension, and answers every question thrown her way to the fullest and with the best details to her recollection. She sits in a laid-back position with one leg crossed under and between her and her chair. Sichel is wearing a camel color sweater like jacket, because of the cold. Her hair is light brown, down and flowing, she holds her hand against her head and her hair falls into the spaces between her fingers, but is soft enough for her to slide her fingers right through she has the hair people wish to have.

Although she has always been an intelligent person, Sichel has not always done well in school. In seventh grade, Lauren started to experience problems with her schoolwork. "I just couldn’t understand what was going on, no matter how much I tried to understand it." She said with unhappy look on her face. She struggled with understanding her work, and fought to identify what was going on in school. Struggling fighting to keep up, she could not endure the pressure and surrenders to the overwhelming feeling as if she were drowning in a sea of papers. "I just gave up trying to do anything and hated that I didn’t enjoy doing my work anymore." Sichel says, looking straight ahead. This was a real surprise to her family because she had been the type of person who handled tough situations well.

She let her work pile up, and stopped doing it or even trying to understand it. Although her family, especially her mom, who has always been supportive, her family was shocked. After all, Sichel had always done well, and now she was not even close to her potential level. "My grades dramatically fell and I was failing everything." Everyone knew something was wrong, but did not know what it was or what to do and so Sichel struggled for some time. She became upset because she had always believed in the importance of education.

Finally, she went to a doctor, to find out if what was wrong. After a grueling eleven hours over a three-day period, her downward spiraling problems stopped and there was light when she learned that she has a minor learning problem. "I thought the testing would never stop, it seemed to go on forever." Although most may think this is not good news, it meant for the Sichel’s that there problem was a fixable one. Lauren now knew the truth. "I was relieved and now knew that it wasn’t because I was lazy, or didn’t try, or even that not understanding my work was my fault." Now the challenge lay ahead of her, and she was ready to fight with everything she had.

Lauren’s strong head on her shoulders and a strong character, prevented her from breaking down. "I have always and still strongly believe in getting a good solid education and didn’t want to give up when I realized of my small learning disability." Instead of indulging in self-pity, she stormed forward to fix whatever she had to so she could get back to her potential level. "All I wanted was to get past it so I could do better in school and in life."

Lauren worked with her doctor in a long term and tedious process for almost three years. As time went by she improved very slowly, yet still in a noticeable upward direction. "I had to change everything about the way I learned to better help myself, and I did just that." Lauren’s grades went up and she began to understand what she was doing in her classes.

"I believe that if this had never happened I would not been in the place that I am in today." She is happy with herself and her work; she has confidence in her work again, and is proud of what she overcame.

Lauren is now doing really well in school, except for math, but then again who is, most claim that they aren’t doing well either, it might have been just because that class is just too boring, that anyone can get lost and confused.

Lauren has even made the honor roll repeatedly, something she thought would not happen only several years ago. "My life is just where I want it to be right now, and I am on the right track to go where I want to go in life too," Lauren stated with a big smile on her face.

This test of will power has made her stronger and more ready then ever for the future. She still feels overcoming her minor problem was quite a challenge and she will be better prepared for tough time ahead, if they occur.

She prepares for future challenges that she can control. These external forces such as tests, project, and college. Sichel is ready for curve balls because she had to deal with her internal conflict, which was a piece of cake; Sichel has already overcome all her self-doubt.

Lauren already has many potential goals for her future. She wants to do work in public relations perhaps within a magazine. "I want to do something that will keep me busy, but not something so overwhelming and hectic that prevents me from enjoying life. I should also be something that keeps me interacting with people and animals as well." Lauren hopes to travel the world and help those less fortunate. For her it is not about guilt, that she lives in a place where there is so much help, but it is in her nature.

Sichel wants to help people realize who are less fortunate then she is. Sichel thinks people should learn that no matter how hard things seem not to give up and fight. She believes how you handle tough situations can define your character as well as who you become in the future. She also wants to do volunteering and just helping people, because of her giving and caring nature.

Sichel has a positive attitude on rising above difficulties because she triumphed over an internal hardship. Sichel also overcame a long battle with self-doubt and regained confidence in her schoolwork and herself once again.