Louis Sanchez

Louis, a son of two Puerto Rican parents, traveled back to his home country, Puerto Rico, and participated in a Quest service project with his Boston Green Academy team in April. Louis had previously attended middle school in Puerto Rico before transferring to Boston Green Academy in 9th grade. He was deeply excited to revisit not only the land, but also his loved ones who currently reside there. Louis profoundly appreciated his aunts, uncles, and cousins who gathered to meet with and embrace him multiple times throughout the trip. In addition, meeting local Puerto Rican students from Nuestra Escuela, a non traditional school aimed to empower students through mental health and healing, had an enormous impact on Louis. Staying and working side by side with these students in the clean up project forced him to deeply connect not only with people he had never met, but also with himself. In reflection circles, he embraced his vulnerability and opened up to complete strangers. Along the way, he developed long lasting, true friendships with these students from Nuestra Escuela. He still keeps in frequent contact with many of them today, and even has plans to return to Puerto Rico to spend time at Nuestra Escuela.

Louis returned to Boston with a newfound love and willingness to embrace new people, challenges, and opportunities. He looks forward to one day returning to Puerto Rico as a successful man, so that he can further serve his community back home.