lucia saenz

Written By paige green

ease ~ the state of being comfortable or relaxed, or free from worry or pain

I met Lucia Saenz September 2021, an NYU student doing a favor for a friend to watch my three kiddos. I knew almost instantly I wanted her to work with us. You know those people that just fit and add something just right. That’s Lucia. She is graceful + kind, soft spoken + confident, hardworking + calm, grounded + ambitious. 

Often when Lucia is here I feel like my oldest has a big sister around to look up to - a true gift. She makes them laugh, jokes about teen angst, gets intel on what’s really going on (important) and somehow gets them to watch Disney movies together.  She glues them in those moments in ways I can’t and I love it. When she’s around there’s a certain ease I adore…

Now ease is fantastically ironic when you learn about Lucia’s life. Raised in Miami by her Peruvian mom, also Lucia (Lucia is the 3rd Lucia in her family). Her mom came to the states single, pregnant and $200 to her name. You know the story….full of grit and the American dream, she opened her own cafe when Lucia was three. By the time Lucia was five, her mom owned a Peruvian restaurant. Mind you Lucia’s mom had no idea how to cook, but you bet she learned. 

Her mom and her stepdad -who entered when Lucia was a toddler - raised Lucia. A shy kid,  she grew up always having to help at the restaurant.  She was good at math and her mom trusted her with minding the money, or helping with service. She speaks both fondly and with slight frustration of how much she was needed to help in the kitchen, with service or really any time after school or weekends.  And when not at the restaurant she was doing school work – her mom was a hard ass on grades, teaching her the importance of work ethic. 

Lucia missed out on a lot of childhood– never trick or treating, hanging with friends after school, doing activities or getting to do nothing (like watch Disney movies on the couch ;-). It was either school or the restaurant. But by age 16 something clicked for her to let go of any anger and be grateful - which indeed is the shining way she comes across – with grace and gratitude..

When Lucia was 10 her mom got stage 3 breast cancer. She fought it for eight years -  finding treatment in Jackson then Orlando, where she could find free clinics.  But in 2018, Lucia’s senior year, her mom sadly passed away. Lucia was left not only with the incredible loss of her mom but needing to decide whether to take on the restaurants (there were two now) or pursue her own path.  Lucia chose the latter, receiving a full scholarship to NYU’s Stern School of Business, where she will graduate this Spring. 

In the midst of these life changing and shaping events, Lucia faced unfathomable loss beyond her mom. Some grossly questionable handling of the financial security her mom spent a lifetime building. When you hear Lucia share her story, you sorta want to hop a plane to Miami and, well, find some long lost Italian relatives to work things out.

But alas Lucia is good, really good. She’s here with ease, every week. She just got back from a semester in Paris, where she got a season pass to EuroDisney because hellooooo she loves Disney (+harry styles A LOT). She has adjusted to being a typical college kid. Enjoying the free time, living her gossip girl life in NYC. Rooted with an upbringing in grit + hard work and finally getting a minute to be her age. And she does it all with a comfort I admire and smile proudly at every week she walks in the door….xop

the picks

give

  • B+Foundation ($5). Lucia’s sorority paired up with this foundation which donates money to families for children with cancer. It helps families with their rent, and bills while they're taking their kids to the hospital for treatment. Reread that last line and Lucia’s life — worth a minute to support the causes close to everyone’s story. 

watch 

  • NARCOS (Netflix/three seasons) In truth her first pick was Brooklyn99 but we’ve had that here a few times. Runner up was NARCOS rightly because of Pedro Pascal and because she can sniff out a fake Colombian accent in a milasecond.

read 

listen

  • Bad Bunny's, Un Verano Sin Ti (Spotify, 1hr 20 mins) Lucia is nothing if not pop culture heaven in our house. She was first to share that Bad Bunny got robbed at the Grammys and even though she loves Harry (she’s seen him live about 10x), she was rooting for Bad Bunny..  

try 

  • Peruvian Food (Lomo Saltado/Steak Stir Fry) File under yes please. As a salute to Lucia’s mom and making your belly happy, give this Peruvian dish a try. Lucia recently made it and it was delicious.

paige green
Previous

marissa tirona
Next

mary giuliani