“You’re the narrator, the protagonist, and the sidekick. You’re the storyteller and the story told. You are somebody’s something but you are also your you.” – John Green
Please join The Faces of Cincinnati as we recognize our graduating high school seniors for 2021. Here is hoping they take their positive spirit to help create a kinder world!
Meet Lauren Pfeiffer . . .
What High School do you attend?
Walnut Hills High School
Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My mom and dad are both from Cincinnati, though not originally the west side. When I was younger, my mom was always at school helping field days, popcorn days, ice cream days, class parties, you name it she was there. My dad always took us camping and taught me how to build a fire. My older brother, Jacob, is three years older than me and my younger sister, Claire, is three years younger than me, so I’m the middle child. Jacob and I were in band together while we went to Walnut Hills and Claire and I love to go on Target runs together. We have two very precious (and large) cats, Jack and Alex, and they’re as much part of the family as the rest of us. My Aunt Denise is a chemistry teacher at my high school and also taught me, so that was a very fun experience. She has also taught me how to scrapbook and do “crafty things.”
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to study Finance and Economics on a Pre-Law track at The University of Alabama. Beyond academics, though, I really hope to grow even more as a person and live life to the fullest, no matter how cheesy that may sound.
What are two of your favorite restaurants in our community?
The Echo in Hyde Park is a go-to for breakfast! Their “Belgian Bird” is my favorite! Right next door to it is Arthur’s of Hyde Park, which is also absolutely fantastic!
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I wouldn’t choose just one place. Choosing one adventure is hard, but maybe not impossible. One place though? I would probably backpack across Europe and visit as many nations and cultures as possible. I’d visit the Louvre in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome. The Parthenon in Athens would of course be a must-see, as well as the Globe Theatre in England. I want to soak up as much history as possible and learn as much as I can from the world, so it only seems right to visit everything with history.
What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My favorite movie of all time is Mama Mia.
My favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy.
If you were asked to give advice to your senior class and the younger students at your school, what would you say?
Never look back at your past or your old self unless it is to appreciate good memories. Don’t dwell on the past because you won’t see what’s coming. You can’t have hope for your future or next big endeavor if you’re too busy looking in the rearview mirror. At the same time, don’t be in such a rush to leave high school; I’m coming to realize how much more I should have appreciated it.
Follow your passions, even if you think they might be “dead ends.” Who cares if that short story or song you write is the only one you will ever write? You enjoyed doing it, didn’t you?
And lastly, if you can, get a job. Even if you have a college fund or aren’t planning on going to college so you don’t need to save up for college, get a job. I’ve been working since about a month after I turned sixteen and it has taught me so many life skills such as money management, professionalism, and communication skills. It’s also a really nice way to meet people from outside of your typical circle.
If you were able to be cast as yourself into a television show or series, what show would you want to be in?
The Good Place
If you could choose anyone to have lunch with, who would you choose? Why? And where, locally, would you meet for this lunch?
Assuming I could have lunch with anyone regardless of whether they were alive, I would have lunch with Ancient Egyptian philosopher Hypatia, because she was the first known female mathematical philosopher. To say I’m a little bit of a nerd when it comes to theoretical mathematics and its history is an understatement, so to be able to meet her would be amazing to me. I would probably go to Red Tree Art Gallery and Coffee Shop in Oakley, because the atmosphere there really lends itself to meaningful conversation.
What is your favorite thing about our community?
I love that there will always be a part of Cincinnati that I don’t know very well. Living in Covedale while going to school in Walnut Hills definitely made me learn lots of ways to get from one side of the city to the other. I even have friends that live in neighborhoods ranging from the Hyde Park area to Wyoming, but I feel like there is always a new area of town that I don’t know well.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself having hopefully graduated law school, though I’m not sure where from yet. I can see myself being happy and probably eating a lot of ice cream.
What is something on your bucket list?
A cross country road trip in a Volkswagen bus, stopping in every single state.
What is your go to band / singer when you cant decide what to listen to?
5 Seconds of Summer or Panic! at the Disco
Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is May, because it feels very hopeful (probably because summer is right around the corner). My favorite holiday is Halloween, because you can wear whatever goofy outfit you want and no one will question it. The best single day on the calendar is February 29.
What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Pineapple pizza
What is something you want to do as soon as this pandemic is finished?
Go to a concert. I don’t even really care who the artist is. I just want to go to a concert and be surrounded by people screaming their hearts out to an artist they love.
Who inspires you to be better?
My first Latin teacher, Mrs. Thomas. I looked forward to her class every day and she somehow had the patience to teach seventh graders Latin of all things. Her compassion and patience are things that I aspire to achieve some day.
