Juliette Cosson, Volunteer Program Assistant
At Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly, we have a Highlight of the Week series where we shine a spotlight on members of the LBFE community including board members, older adults, volunteers, students, staff, CitySites (and more!) to learn about them and their experiences with LBFE. This week’s highlight is of one of our Volunteer Program Assistants (VPA), Juliette Cosson. Juliette has successfully completed a year of service with LBFE through Civic Service and she is leaving us today to go back home to France! She was asked to share a little about herself and her experience with LBFE this year.
Please describe your role as a VPA and what inspired you to serve with LBFE this year.
I was here as part of the French program Civic Service. I enrolled for 12 months. As VPAs, Simon and I would both help in the office (events organization, …) and go to CitySites with the volunteers.
I had never worked with elders before and I wanted to do something new so when I saw the offer I applied immediately (also because we would help with organizing events, which I had done in the past for another organization and really loved). I knew the organization because it is pretty big in France, but I really wanted to live abroad and travel, so I chose Boston.
What would you say was your biggest personal accomplishment (and biggest professional accomplishment this year?)
My biggest personal accomplishments were my trips. I really wanted to travel this year and I got the chance to travel all around the US. I also went to Iceland and Costa Rica. And I have a very exciting summer coming… (which makes it a bit easier to leave, I got to say…). A professional accomplishment would be that I learned how to be patient, which was never my strongest quality.
What are 2 words that you would use to describe LBFE’s programs/mission, and why?
Friendship & community.
Our programs aim to create a sense of community in the different buildings we are involved in. I feel it now more than ever: during the past week I’ve been saying goodbye to everybody (as I am flying back to Europe today), and I am going to miss everybody so much. Some of those elders are my friends, and I am so grateful I got to meet so many incredible people this year.
What were your top 3 favorite memories of this year at LBFE?
- The holidays parties. For Thanksgiving we had a huge party at the Hyatt Hotel, with about 150 elders. It was an awesome day. Seeing them so happy on the dance floor was definitely the highlight of the day. Some of them are so talented…
- The volunteers orientation in September. It was about a month after I arrived and meeting all our new volunteers was so exciting. It was also Simon’s first week, and it was nice finally having a roommate again.
- Last Thursday: Thursdays are a big CitySite day for us. Last week was my last Thursday and everybody had planned so much for me. At Rogerson House, they gave me flowers, then Olivia, one of the older adults I visit, took me out for lunch. When I arrived at St. Botolph, the residents had prepared a party for me (with more food than we could eat, as per usual). It made me feel so nostalgic already, but I was so moved by all their attention. It was so sweet, really.
How has your time at LBFE prepared you for your next steps? Where are you headed next?
I am moving to Lisbon to study there for the next 2 years.
When I arrived to Boston last July, I was a bit sick of studying engineering, but after this year, I am really happy to go back. It was, with no doubt, the break I needed. I still want to work for non-profits later, but maybe not right away: I’m not completely done with science yet. I do want to keep traveling too.
Thanks so much to LBFE for having me this year! 🙂 <3
We at LBFE want to thank Juliette for all of her hard work and dedication to our programs, elders, and volunteers this year! She will be very missed and we wish her the best of luck in all she does in the future!
Remember to check out next week’s blog to see who will be highlighted then!
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