Hispanic Heritage Month: Jaden Baralt
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, providing an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. At the Merrimack Valley YMCA, we are proud to have such a diverse group of staff, members and volunteers who make our Y such a wonderful and welcoming place to be.
Stay tuned throughout this month as we recognize a few of those individuals and share a little bit about their story.
Jaden Baralt
Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to the Merrimack Valley YMCA?
My name is Jaden Baralt and I work in the Child watch program. I’ve been working at the Andover/North Andover YMCA for around 5 years.
What brought you to the Y in the first place?
What has brought me to the Y and makes me continue to come back is how accepting they are, and allowing me to come into work with resources to learn and grow.
What does your Hispanic/Latino heritage mean to you?
My Hispanic heritage means so much to me knowing that I am from a small island called the Dominican republic. I love my culture and everything about it.
Is there a tradition, value, or lesson from your family or culture that has stayed with you?
There isn’t a specific tradition we follow but there are unique cuisines that my family makes and I always enjoy it.
Who has had the biggest influence on the person you are today?
Everyone in my family has definitely had the biggest influence on who I am today, and without them nothing I have would be possible without them.
What is something you’re proud of — either personaly, professionally or within your community?
Something I am proud of is I am pursuing college and following a career as a First Gen student in my family.
What is one thing you hope to pass on to the next generation?
One thing I hope to pass to the next generation, as they are the future, is to truly follow your goals.
