EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Lauren Hastings, Class Of 2001

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — When members of the band “New Kids on the Block” trashed a hotel room in Louisville back in 1991, it turned out to be the catalyst for a future Evergreen Park Community High School student to seek a career in counseling.

“It wouldn’t be until I was MUCH older later in life someone like yourself as why I wanted to do my job and I was retelling this story that it dawned on me that their behavior was associated with drinking and drugs and in some odd way I was destined to this job,” said Lauren Hastings, who graduated from EPCHS in 2001 and now works as a substance abuse counselor.

"I have known people in my life who have struggled with substance use problems and then when taking a class to put off my student loans I fell in love and it clicked. NKOTB, having people in my life who have struggled, putting off paying my student loans… All these factors came together to give me a job I never would have imagined having but now can’t imagine being without."

Hastings has worked as a substance abuse counselor at Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) for nearly two years now, after working as a DUI, alcohol and drug counselor in Downers Grove from January 2018 until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was a wonderful job that broke my heart when it ended,” Hastings said of her time in Downers Grove. “I didn’t think I could love a place the way I loved Downers Grove, but HAS pretty quickly became my extended family in a way I never imagined a job could.”

Twenty-some years ago, it was the students and teachers at EPCHS who first became part of Hastings’ extended family.

“I wasn’t popular by any means, but I was someone everyone knew,” Hastings remembers of her high school life. “I’m a 4’8” goofball so I stood out.”

But it was her involvement in clubs and activities that made her more well-known. Hastings was part of the first trip outside the United States for any EPCHS group when the choir went to Italy to sing at the Vatican. She was involved in every play of musical in some fashion, off the stage or on, and was a member of the drama club, school newspaper and literary guild as well. She played percussion in the pit in the marching band, and trumpet in the concert band.

“I was a band/choir/theater kid so a lot of my time and fond memories revolve around that; spending time in the band hall with friends,” Hastings said. “It is a hallway between the auditorium and the band and choir rooms. Band lockers were there. I got along pretty well with most people so high school wasn’t a bad experience for me at all.”

Mr. Boersma, an EPCHS psychology teacher at the time, was “awesome and definitely fed the flames for my love of the human mind,” Hastings added. “I guess I was one of his more memorable students too because he would say ‘Lauren when I write my book you will be in it.’”

Mr. Rob Novak, an EPCHS math teacher to this day, also sticks out in Hastings’ EPCHS memories.

“I was horrible in math but Mr. Novak was really cool and would let me joke around, but knew when to reign me in,” she said. “Looking back I had so many wonderful times, but Prom Queen is definitely at the top.”

Hastings’ Prom Queen story is a unique one.

“I was going to go with some friends, no date,” she remembers. “My cousin made my dress because I wanted something original so it was a fairytale type dress made of velvet and puffy sleeves… But then I overheard my acquaintance/friend Dave saying about this contest to win a scholarship put on by the Duck Tape duct tape company where you make and wear outfits to prom. Submit a photo and people vote on a winner.

OMG I thought the idea was awesome. That was a billion times more original than the fairytale dress so I said if he needed a date I would do it. This all was like two weeks before prom so I had to act fast. I had a prom dress party with some friends who helped me make the dress. We taped over a dress I got at the thrift store because I didn’t have the time to make a FULL dress.”

Dave had been nominated for Prom King, so, “by default,” Hastings was the Queen.

“I still remember they had us lined up outside the ball room and called in the couples of the prom court one by one. Walking in to the cheers and cameras flashing, I felt like a celebrity on the red carpet. It was crazy and then, when Dave was announced king and we danced that king and queen dance with everyone having all eyes on us, it was magical. I call Prom my Cinderella story because that night I felt transformed for that night.”

EPCHS’ forever duct tape prom queen looks forward to continuing to move forward her career and personal life.

“I tend to take life day by day but if I were to look at the big picture I want to keep learning about different aspects of counseling,” Hastings said.

“Perhaps one day go for a master’s degree but I’m not in a rush. It sounds corny but I want to find someone to have a deep meaning relationship with, settle down with. I might be almost 40 but haven’t given up on finding someone special. I can’t say what things will look like but if I am able to live my life to be of service to others and be happy with the life I have then the details of what gets me there aren’t so important.”