Lauren Phillip '16: From Shy Student to Confident Leader
From Shy Student to Confident Leader: Lauren Phillip ’16
Lauren Phillip ’16 transferred to Our Lady of the Elms School after just five days at a large public high school—and she still remembers how quickly the difference became clear.
“I was coming home crying every day,” she recalls. “It was really overwhelming.”
But when she stepped onto the Elms campus, the contrast was immediate. “There are only three hallways,” she laughs. “I was like, this is great!”
More than the physical space, it was the people. “I loved the idea of being around strong, smart women all day,” she says. For a shy freshman who had already experienced multiple school transitions, the Elms felt like a place where she could finally exhale—and belong.
Community That Lasts
That sense of belonging showed up right away. On her very first day, a group of girls invited Lauren to sit with them at lunch. She sat next to a student named Lizzie, now her best friend and the woman in whose wedding she served as maid of honor.
“I met my best friend on my first day at the Elms,” Lauren says. “And we’re still friends.”
A decade later, that community still holds. “Sometimes I’ll say, ‘I just need to talk to an Elms girl right now,’” she explains. “There’s a very distinct community at the Elms. They’ll understand.”
Being Seen—and Finding Her Voice
When Lauren arrived at the Elms, she was quiet and unsure of herself. That began to shift, in large part, because of teachers who saw something in her before she fully saw it herself.
One moment stands out. Struggling in biology, Lauren was pulled aside by Mrs. Kermizis, who invited her to a tutoring session and walked through the material with her one-on-one.
“I was kind of scared of science and math for a while,” Lauren says. “She made me realize, ‘Oh, I can do this.’”
That moment didn’t just change her grade—it changed her future. “She’s the reason I majored in biology,” Lauren says. “I actually messaged her recently and said, ‘I’m a doctor now—literally because of you.’”
Leadership, Lived
At the Elms, leadership wasn’t something Lauren chased—but it found her, anyway. Through volleyball, she began to speak up, encourage her teammates, and step into responsibility. Senior year, she was unanimously voted team captain.
“I feel like the Elms helped me find my voice,” she says. “I was encouraged to speak up and cheer for people.”
Leadership also meant navigating conflict with empathy. “How do you be a leader while also being someone’s friend?” Lauren reflects. Standing up for others—even when that’s uncomfortable—is something she still carries with her.
Carrying the Elms Forward
After graduating in 2016, Lauren chose John Carroll University because it felt familiar: small classes, professors who knew her, and a strong sense of community. There, she took on leadership roles across student government, service organizations, and political groups—many of them for multiple years.
“I don’t think I would have had the courage to try those things if it weren’t for the Elms,” she says. “My mom tells everyone, ‘My kid was so shy, and now she’s not!’”
Perseverance With Purpose
Lauren is now a thriving veterinarian, but her path was not without challenge. After earning admission to Michigan State’s veterinary school—a major accomplishment—she failed her board exams. Twice.
“I had never really failed at anything before,” she says.
What carried her through was reflection, support, and resilience. “Being willing to admit what wasn’t working, change it, and keep going—that’s what got me through.”
The third time, she passed. Today, she works as a small-animal veterinarian in Cleveland, providing compassionate care to pets and their families in her community.
An Elms Woman
Ask Lauren what defines an Elms woman, and her answer is simple—and telling.
“Confident girls who know how to cheer for others,” she says. “We show up for each other. We support each other. We lead together.”
It’s a description she embodies—and one that reflects the enduring mission of Our Lady of the Elms School: developing women leaders, rooted in community, guided by reflection, and committed to serving the world.