# @uosomd on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C5G0qUkMalH
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/13212112-uosomd-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/4ac1a3a0a9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-03-29T17:54:59.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UOregon Music+Dance (@UOSOMD) — https://gondola.cc/UOSOMD

## Caption

Here's to hoping the weather warms up as fast as Lauren Haendler warms up our Repertoire Singers 🌞 

#GraduateSpotlight: Lauren is a music education major graduating this June! 

Next, she will pursue her master's in vocal performance and eventually become a high school choir director. Once she lands a teaching gig, she wants to join a choir or perform opera. 

“It’s crucial to me as a teacher that I’m also a competent performer,” she said. “Especially as a young woman, when I first enter the classroom, students tend to view me as an older sister, but I’m finding that I’m gaining respect from my students through my competency.”  

While it's obvious to her now that she is meant to teach music, in high school she was on her constitutional law team & imagined becoming a civil rights attorney. 

At the time, she was also heavily involved in music -- taking voice lessons, performing in musicals, and participating in choir. 

As she approached graduation, her choir director & uosomd alum, Karen Bohart, encouraged her to consider a career in music education. 

“My senior year of high school, she asked why I hadn’t considered being a music teacher and I hadn't ever given it any thought!” Lauren recalled. “I didn’t even think that was a possibility, but once I thought about it, I said, ‘Oh, that fits.’”  

Today, Lauren is the President of UO's Collegiate National Association for Music Education (NAfME) chapter & most of her time leading up to graduation has been spent teaching choir at Springfield High School. “It’s really exciting to teach there and I love those kids!” she said. 

We are so proud of you for following your passion, Lauren! Congrats on graduation 🎓

#DuckGrad24

## Stats

- **Views:** 911
- **Likes:** 220
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 11

## Tags

duckgrad24, graduatespotlight

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