Trendsetters of Boston
Sam, 36: “I dress nicely because I think it’s a nice way to show self respect and respect to other people. Right now I’m into Bible education, so I want to dress nicely for that too. We want to make sure we represent the message in a good way.”
Florence, 28, and Khalil, 28: “I’m pregnant! Her names is Agnes, it can be pronounced in French and English, and it’s the name of the street we used to live on.” “I have Indian parents, I was born and bred in Dubai, and I’m a Canadian citizen of Montreal who speaks English and French. I try to keep those different viewpoints together when I make decisions because people might have different backgrounds as well.”
Caitlin, 28: “I was actually just looking on my phone because I have this thing called synthesia, and I applied to speak at the Synthesia Association Conference and I was just accepted! I’m going talk about how synthesia is a way of knowing. I framed the talk in relation to the recent focus on racial discrimination in the United States and how it’s really difficult when you experience something that other people can’t experience. And, oddly enough, for people with synesthesia, that happened. As research was able to support what people were experiencing, it gained credibility that it didn’t have before. I want to explore questions about different ways we experience the world and how it shapes our worldviews.”
Evan, 23: “I was a philosophy major in college, so I studied everything and nothing. I like to say it’s the one major where you’re encouraged to be confused most of the time. I didn’t necessarily choose it with any sort of career in mind, but I’m really glad I’ve ended up here so far and I really love what I’m doing.” Evan is a staff member at More Than Words
More Than Words: “We are a non-profit social enterprise. We’re a used bookstore run by system involved youth between the ages of 16 and 21 who are in foster care, homeless, or out of school. It’s all about providing the right support. I think everyone needs the right support system, and a job like this will be really cool because of what it’s doing for these teens– giving them authentic responsibility.”
Lauren, 30: “I’m so used to change, so used to moving, so used to just going for it. That’s not really good advice for everybody, but for me it changed my whole life and perspective just by picking up and moving. Don’t be afraid to drop everything. Even if it’s really hard when you thought it’d be easy, just go for it.”
Audrey, 17: “I’m pretty random and spontaneous and blunt. I just like to do my own thing. After college, I want to work as an OT for children, because I want to a job that I find interesting and where I can make a difference in the lives of children.”
Emily, 18: “I dyed my hair because I wanted something different, something that not everyone else had. I get bored of one thing, so I just wanted to try something new. I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to try new things”
Rudi, 24: “I had a customer tell me once that she never thought of wearing boots like this before, which is interesting because they’re just sort of on my feet. I guess I am a trendsetter in that way because I chose to follow the trend in a new and interesting way.”