By: Jennifer Bladykas
Posted In: Opinion
Photo credit: Tarah Szczepanek
Jennifer Bladykas and Theresa Sousa at the Mercy Tea
In this world, there is a difference between the dreamers and the doers. The dreamers want to change the world, but are held back by fear or lack of ambition and their dream hardly turns into a reality. And then there are people like Theresa Sousa-a dreamer of mercy and justice, but most importantly a doer.
Like most students who came to Salve, Theresa had a strong faith and a belief that she could make a difference. Whereas most people stop at that, Theresa actually went out there and produced. Inspired by the life of Dorothy Day in the movie, Entertaining Angels, during her freshman year, Theresa quickly changed her major to social work and began the first of many acts of mercy during her time at Salve. Focusing on women and children, Theresa lives in the spirit of Catherine McAuley and the sisters of Mercy. She volunteers her time with the Social Work Club, the Women’s Resource Center of Newport, the Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center of Rhode Island and even finds time to give tours to prospective students at Salve. However, what makes Theresa worthy of the Mercy week nomination and how she helps to define what Mercy week is all about is that she doesn’t understand the word impossible. She believes in hard work, social justice, kindness and miracles, and is a living example of how to live a life that promotes harmony, mercy and justice. As my friend, my peer and a beautiful soul, I aspire to live my life like Theresa and in doing so; I know the world will be a better place because of her.
