Unlike most high school students who graduate and move out of their hometown, Lauren Jacobsen has chosen to give back to the community she grew up in by working for Oxford Township’s Parks & Recreation Department.
In May 2006, Jacobsen was hired by parks and rec. and is now a full-time Recreation Developer, which makes her responsible for the ‘Fun in the Sun? Summer Camps and enrichment programs for adults and children, such as gymnastics and special events.
Jacobsen has lived in Oxford her whole life and is a 2001 graduate of Oxford High School.
After high school she attended Michigan State University, where she tried different majors only to find that nothing seemed to be what she wanted to pursue.
That’s when she looked into majoring in Parks Recreation Tourism Resources.
Parks Recreation Tourism Resources is a great field to get into because ‘there is more hands on work than paper work,? according to Jacobsen.
‘I was also interested in the field because I could have fun while giving back to the Oxford community,? she added.
Jacobsen interned with Oakland County Parks and Recreation for three or four summers and graduated from MSU in spring 2005.
She normally works 40 hours a week, but in the summer, she arrives to work earlier or stays later to prepare for the next day’s full load of exciting activities.
Jacobsen finds it very fun to work in her hometown, mostly because she gets to see people she grew up and graduated with have kids of their own who go through the parks and rec. programs.
‘It’s cool to see everyone grow up,? she said.
As a youth, Jacobsen took part in many softball and basketball camps offered through Parks & Recreation, as well.
‘It’s cool to work here because I grew up doing Parks & Recreation activities,? she said.
Jacobsen is very happy where she works and plans on staying in Oxford for a while.
‘You know you have a fun job when you wake up in the morning and are excited to go to work,? she said. ‘That is how I am about my job.?