Lauren Connors has achieved her lifelong ambition of becoming a history teacher, despite an unconventional path. A former AP student and top lacrosse player at North Hunterdon High School, Connors made the unexpected decision to drop out during her junior year due to bullying and personal challenges. She aimed to earn her GED and start college early, which she accomplished by obtaining an associate degree in education from Raritan Valley Community College in 2019. This was followed by a bachelor’s degree in history and a secondary social studies teaching certification from Kean University in 2021, and a master’s degree in European and Mediterranean studies from New York University in 2022.
Currently, Connors is fulfilling her dream at West Morris Mendham High School, where she teaches world history classes and an International Baccalaureate global politics course. “I love being able to talk about history, work with history and get students excited about history,” said Connors. Her impact on students is notable; one student expressed newfound appreciation for history after taking her class.
Connors’ influence extends beyond the classroom. Her former mentor at Kean University, C. Brid Nicholson, Ph.D., recounted hearing praise for Connors’ teaching from her own daughter during remote learning sessions. Nicholson remarked on the rewarding experience of seeing a student become a teacher.
During her academic journey, Connors was encouraged by Nicholson to join Kean’s honors program and was selected for an internship at The Oral History Review by Abigail Perkiss, Ph.D., an associate professor of history. At NYU, she researched Afghanistan’s opium production and its impact on local farmers.
In the classroom, Connors engages students by presenting history as a narrative and encouraging them to take handwritten notes. “At the end of the year,” she tells them, “Guess what? You just wrote your own textbook.” Joseph Geddes from West Morris Regional High School District described her as “a ball of positive energy” who connects meaningfully with students.
While not advocating dropping out as a route to success, Connors encourages resilience among her students: “You don’t have to enjoy it,” she said, “but it will make you stronger.”
