family

PAUL: MUSICIAN, CHRISTIAN, FAMILY-MAN

During the interview with Paul Douillon, I learned a lot about who he his and his character, but three things stood out the most: he’s God loving, family oriented, and musically inclined.

GOD

“Initially, my relationship with God was based off of my parent’s relationship with him. It got to a point where I had to make that relationship more personal. I remember at a young age, I was passionate about worshiping and serving God. As I grew older, the passion just doubled, tripled. Around sixteen years old, I went through something pretty intense, and it pushed me further than I have ever been.

Sixteen was one of my hardest years, but my pinnacle was at seventeen because during that year, I had no responsibilities, so I was able to work on my spiritual life. I spent a lot of time reading, studying books of ministers, learning more about the history of the body, and during that year I’ve probably fasted more than I ever did before.

Now, I don’t have as much time to nurture my spiritual life, but I guess you could say that I do it, but not as much as I did when I had less responsibilities. At the same time I realized that during that year [of seventeen], God gave me the time to make such significant investments in my spiritual life, so that I don’t starve out going into my college years.”

“I have a good relationship with my entire family, and that’s mostly because any relationship that will last has to be founded on God.

For example, with my dad, when we go to meetings, and he’s the one driving for hours to get there, I’d be the one to keep him up. One way I would do that is through asking him questions. One thing that we love to talk about is the word of God, we’d break it down, and go over scriptures. I think that us being able to talk throughout the night has formed a very special relationship between me and my dad.

Within all of the great relationships I have with the people in my family is a very cool one with my twin brother. In our nineteen years of living, we have shared a room, and we have never fought over something. When it comes to things we own, we are so neutral with each other, if there is something here, it’s for both of us. Sometimes it’d go like:

‘You wanted to wear it? I was thinking about wearing it, but you can have it.’

‘No, I want you to have it since you wanted to wear it first.’

We would even lie to each other and say ‘I never wanted it,’ so that the other person can have it, but that never works because we know each other well enough to think otherwise.”

From left to right: Angelo, Sashine, Ruth, Antoine, Gina, and Paul Douillon

MUSIC

“I’m passionate about music. I play eight different instruments [trumpet, drums, piano, baritone, flugelhorn, bass guitar, learning guitar and trombone]. I also want to learn how to play the flute, and the saxophone, and maybe the violin. I want to learn at least 10 instruments in total.

I’ve written a few instrumentals, and one day I would love to make an instrumental album with me playing all of the instruments featured in it. Another dream of mine is for one day, the tunes that I make to be played by an orchestra, or even further, have the emotional tunes that I make end up on a movie soundtrack.

The music that I play is an extension of who I am. It’s expressing myself without any words. Sometimes, I’ll have a difficult day, and I don’t want to talk to anyone about it, so I’ll go on my piano, let out my emotions through my fingers, and there comes a song. Music is a way I can express myself quite well to the world, and to myself. Music is also a universal language, it goes past borders. You can put a German, an Australian, an American, a Haitian, and an African in the same room, play the same song, and they will feel the same emotion. I think that’s a beautiful thing.”

Paul founded an organization at his school, Musical Minds, in which members play music at the school and the community, and also teach music to those who would like to learn.

— Paul Douillon, 19, Founder of Musical Minds, College student

Mom,

Today you graduate (which is in the form of a luncheon because the ceremonies are every other year). You worked hard to get here. I remember when I was in elementary school, too young to stay home alone, you would rush to get from work, to the person babysitting my brother and I, to your night classes. At the time, dad worked a night shift as well. When completing the last two classes for the degree, after five days of working, you spent your Saturdays at class. I watched as you juggled to be a mom, a student, a coworker, a teacher, and a person devoted to God all at the same time. I know it wasn’t easy coming into the country, getting your citizenship, and building the life you now have. But you’re doing it, you’re building. You completed the class to help you speak and read English. You completed the classes to get your Associate’s Degree. You managed to get a better job with that new diploma. You continued to work hard. Now, you have your Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education.

Today we celebrate you. Today we honor you and your decision to keep pushing forward even when the times were less than ideal, even in the midst of difficult classes. You did it. I couldn’t be more proud of all you accomplished, and everything you will accomplish from this day forward.

This photo essay takes place at my mother’s graduation luncheon, in which she listens to wise words, talks, eats her meal, and enjoy the event meant to honor her, along with 38 hardworking individuals who either got their Bachelor’s or their Master’s.