Louisa Paolini: This Week with Artisans!

The cherry on top of getting back into the swing of things this semester has been reuniting with my mentee Sara. She always brightened my Monday mornings last semester and I’m looking forward to seeing her smiling face every Wednesday of this semester. We like to play games, color pictures, and are looking forward to going bowling together.

Of the many things I admire about Sara, one of my favorites is her honesty. She will not hesitate to tell me how she feels, something I think so many of us often times lack in friendships and any sort of relationship nowadays. One of my favorite Sara quotes is when she so simply and matter-of-factly stated, “Louisa, your hair is a mess today,” after looking me up and down when I walked into service that day. I chuckled and agreed with her because honestly, she was right, my hair was a mess. With Sara’s unwavering honesty also comes a very genuine concern for the wellbeing of others. If I even just yawn, she asks me why I’m tired and if I’m doing alright. No matter how many questions I ask about her, she’ll always return the questions because she seems to truly want to know about me and my life. Finally, Sara is a jokester. A complete and utter goofball. She is constantly laughing, coming up with funny noises, and making jokes. Her joy and zest for life has been a much needed reminder for me this year to relax and enjoy each and every moment.  


One of my favorite activities Sara and I have done together is look through photo albums she brings to service. Her parents have made several photo albums about her life in general, and about specific events, such as vacations or birthday celebrations. They’re full of pictures, as well as captions detailing who was there and what they did. It’s so fun to get a better glimpse into her life. Another favorite memory was going to Green Bluff together and getting to pick pumpkins and adventure through a corn maze. Here’s a picture of us on the train!
                                       


I’m so excited to continue spending time with Sara this year, as well as all of the other mentees.

Louisa Paolini
Setons 2017-18

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