Everyone knew she loved teaching students, whether in her high school algebra class or in college as a life skills coach. But nobody could have guessed that, four years later, Lauren Hersch would be on a plane ride to teach in Mongolia for two years.

Hersch spent her life as a young girl in Lincolnwood, IL and then attended Niles West from 2017 to 2021. She made her mark as a four-year swimmer and water polo player, an art club member, a robotics teammate and a National Honor Society (NHS) member. Upon graduating in 2021, she enrolled at Purdue University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design and a minor in Design and Innovation.

“During my junior year, I started to look deeper into what I wanted to do after graduation,” Hersch said. “I found the Peace Corps to be the most meaningful and impactful international volunteer option. I applied the summer before my senior year and spent a full year on the application process before finally flying to Mongolia.” 

The Peace Corps is an independent United States government agency that sends volunteers to over 60 countries in need of assistance. When one applies to the Corps, they are assigned a country and must live there for about two years while completing community service projects and immersing themselves in the local culture. When applying, Hersch chose the option of countries labeled “where help is most needed.”

“I was willing to go wherever the Peace Corps placed me,” Hersch said. “My mindset was that if I was already committing to this experience, I wanted to fully lean into the idea of ‘wherever the wind takes me.'”

Hersch’s weekly life consists of co-teaching six English language classes, guiding teacher development and leading life skills, speaking and art clubs. In the community, she runs an adult speaking club and does graphic design for a local company. Mongolia has shown Hersch that people are not as different as commonly perceived.

“The hospitality here is incredible—people are so open and welcoming,” Hersch said. “I’m still early in my service, but this experience has already taught me to deeply appreciate and seek out different cultures.”

Prior to teaching, Hersch participated in a three-month training program to become accustomed to the Mongolian language, culture and teaching style. To become a teacher, one must score a “Novice High” on a Mongolian-speaking test. Hersch scored “Intermediate Low” in Mongolian.

“I can hold basic conversations, talk about my day, numbers, family, and more,” Hersch said. “I’m still learning every day and meet with a Mongolian tutor once a week since training has ended. I am nowhere near fluent, but hopefully in 2 years I can get there.”

Physics teacher Anthony Comstock had Hersch as a homeroom student from 2017 to 2021 and has maintained a relationship with her since she graduated.

“She is a hard worker who had the ability to both analyze complex mechanical problems, while also communicating her own thinking in a way that was accessible to all,” Comstock said. “Lauren is a kind and genuine person who truly, deeply cares about those around her.”

Comstock received a message from Hersch in October, asking if any West teachers would be interested in connecting their students with pen pals in Mongolia. The proposal remains inconclusive.

At West, Hersch found a passion for engineering from competing on the Niles West robotics team and taking general engineering classes. Engineering teacher Kenneth Albert admired her dedication.

“She was a great student, I know she was always helping other students at [West], which was really awesome,” Albert said. “She was in our industrial engineering design class as a freshman, and also in a civil engineering class.”

English teacher Lia Sosa taught Hersch in Honors American Literature and Composition in 2019.

“Lauren was an exceptional student, always ready to discuss and dig into controversial issues during current event presentations,” Sosa said. “She was meticulous and loved to take apart reading, analyzing the pieces.”

Retired district 219 teacher Leslie Natzke served in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa, for two years. Like Hersch, the Corps shaped Natzke’s outlook on life and influenced her teaching approach at District 219 schools.

“Honestly, it was a great experience for me and for everyone that I have met,” Natzke said. “For many of us, Peace Corps gave us direction, taught us hard and soft skills, and opened up our world.”

When Hersch finishes her time in Mongolia, she plans to continue working with humanitarian organizations and stay in the field of industrial design.