Lauren O’Herlihy

Lauren O’Herlihy is the latest young person from our neighborhood heading into the armed services. The 21-year-old has enlisted in the United States Air Force and will be heading to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio on July 5.

After completing basic training, O’Herlihy will remain in Texas and continue training in Security Forces/Military Police. Then, she will learn where the Air Force plans to send her next, a decision she awaits with a combination of “excitement, nervousness, and anxiousness all at the same time.”

Lauren told the Reporter, “it is a huge decision and change for a person. This is the right time for me to be embarking on a new adventure for myself outside of Dorchester, but no matter how far away I am or what I’m doing, Dorchester will always be home.”

O’Herlihy has planned to join since she graduated high school, but admits she’s “not looking forward to the summer heat in Texas.” A lot of people thought Lauren was joking when she spoke about enlisting, but when she was close to graduating she told her parents her plans, and though they are very supportive of the military, they didn’t want their daughter to join.

Lauren ended up attending college for a few years, but wasn’t content. She knew what she wanted to do and that it would make her happy. She went ahead and joined in January, but did not tell any family or friends until after the fact, so it was a surprise to everyone.

“I’ve always had a sense of the greater good instead of getting caught up in the same old day-to-day,” Lauren told the Reporter. “There’s a big world out there with all kinds of issues that far outweigh some of the things people choose to focus on. I have a lot of friends and family in the military and they have been very helpful since I enlisted in January.”

Attending St. Mark’s School until the 7th grade and moving on to Boston Latin Academy, Lauren managed to join the St. Mark’s CYO, worked with younger kids, and volunteered for many causes as well as participating in community-oriented events.

O’Herlihy said, “It was very important that I stay out of trouble. I come from a good old Irish family that wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense. They stressed the importance of being a good person, always having my manners, having respect but standing up for what you believe in, doing the right thing and becoming an overall respectable member of society.”

“The beauty of growing up in Dorchester is the amazing sense of community and people knowing and helping each other. Everyone knows everyone somehow or another. The connections you can make with people rival those made anywhere else. Over the years I’ve made and maintained friendships with so many different people from all walks of life. That in and of itself is like a blessing because it has enabled me to open my eyes to so much and allow me to be open minded.

“This combined with the life lessons you learn while living here are an invaluable resource for going out into the world. I cannot imagine growing up anywhere else or the person I would be if I had. It’s comforting to know that wherever you go in the world, whatever you face, that Dorchester will always be here with open arms to welcome you home.”

Click here to read about Dorchester resident Brendan Deeney's experiences in Afghanistan