Introducing Jaelen Padilla, 2024 Youth of the Year

On October 23rd, 2024 Heartshare St. Vincent's Family Services held it's annual Benefit in downtown Manhattan. Each year, we honor a young person from our American Dream Program with the Youth of the Year recognition. In October, we honored Jaelen Padilla, a freshman at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. Below is acceptance speech from the evening.

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Coming home can mean many things to many people. But more often than not we picture a physical place. A distinct place with walls… a parent’s cooking… a meal at the table with the entire family… a bed to rest your head when you walk in the door after a long day of school. It’s the place that’s always there when you come back to the City after some time away. 

I hold those same memories. I always loved coming home after school. After having a bad day, walking through that door made everything one hundred times better. The options of either laying on my bed or taking a shower to cool off just felt right. I can still vividly remember crying one day in kindergarten when my mom left after dropping me off — crying all day, nothing could stop me, the tears could not be defeated. But when she came by later that day to bring me back home, the fear and sadness instantly disappeared. It felt so good to say, “I was going home.” 

At some point, I realized that home meant more than a house. The basketball court became home. Going to the park to dribble and shoot after a long day of school brought the same calmness as my bedroom. I was able to express myself freely on the court... I felt truly at ease.  was too young to fully describe or acknowledge it, but I’m so thankful that deep down I understood the potential of home. 

It’s easier than you think to lose a home. For me this happened in February of 2022. One day we were a solid, normal family. My mom, my grandmother, my brother and myself. And then the next day my mom was gone. She just walked out and abandoned us. Up until this point, my home felt perfect. And then it broke. I never saw it coming, but I was 14. I shouldn’t have to be on watch for whether my mom is going to disappear… I shouldn’t have to be ready for that possibility…. I shouldn’t have to go through this… I shouldn’t have to stay strong for my 10-year-old brother and make sure he was good. When I reflect on that moment in time, I am so thankful that I already began to understand that home was not singular. This realization allowed me to get through it. Accept the support, be there for my brother, and continue to stay focused in the classroom and on the court. 

I am noticing more and more that my definition of home is changing. I recently began college in Rhode Island. My dorm is still new, but it's starting to feel like home. My Communication Course is starting to feel like home. The basketball courts on the Harborside campus are beginning to feel like home. The occasional weekend train back to Brooklyn is beginning to feel like home. And of course, my grandmother’s home, where I have grown up my whole life, is and will forever be my home. With all the comfort, happiness, and most importantly, the memories I made there — despite that day in February two years ago — I am proud to know this place will always anchor me. 

HeartShare St. Vincent’s Family Services is also my home; accepting and supporting my brother and me. When I came here, for either my internship or my check-ins with my former Coach Kayla, for which I am truly grateful for, I always felt welcomed and appreciated, as if I was one with the agency. Ms. Kayla helped me to apply for college. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

I also want to thank my new Coach Ms. Joli. who I am delighted to have on my side. I remember us going on a walk and talking about basketball. Normal stuff. Life stuff. Stuff a 17 yr-old should be talking about… That little connection really made me feel at home, and I thank you for that. 

Basketball is clearly a passion. I’m also a fan of video games. I recently realized that finding new homes is just like reaching new checkpoints in a game. I’m collecting homes, I’m powering up. The feeling of finding a new home can be a positive and should remain as one. As for me losing one, it wasn’t the end of the game; it was just time to find a new home. 

 I have my plan. I continue to collect homes. I continue to create new goals. I have love. I’m looking forward. The future is mine.

Jaelen Padilla

Although my Brooklyn apartment was my home before, this new chapter with just my brother and grandmother…  it has changed for the better. Although my brother and I already were receiving love, I feel that it doubled, even tripled. The unit is stronger than ever. Additionally, my brother and I realized that we had to stick together, despite the standard rollercoasters of brotherly love, we will forever be connected by blood, and by our homes. Jaeden, thank you for being you and for being so strong. I love you. I am also extremely grateful for my grandmother. Words cannot describe how much I love her, although I never say it, I really do. From making sure I stayed on track with school to not getting distracted by the things of life, you have helped me pave my way to where I am today. For me standing here giving this speech, it just wouldn’t have been possible without your unconditional love. Grandma, I love you.

And coming to a close, I’d love to take a moment and thank all of those that helped me to grow as a person, and to make new homes. Mr. Neal Francis, Ms. Debbie, Ms. Dawnasia, Ms. Athena and all of you here at HeartShare St. Vincent’s. I cannot wait to come back to my homes after graduating college. I am looking forward to seeing the faces of both the people who doubted me, and who supported me. To everyone at HeartShare St. Vincent’s who has lent me pieces of their heart and pushed me to reach college, I am forever grateful. It’s already been said, but I need to say it one more time. I owe everything to my grandmother for making sure that I stayed on task. She has always stayed by my side to push me to my limit. Big dreams, ambitious dreams, American dreams.. 

In the next 5 years, I promise I’ll be back. You’ll see me proudly holding my 5-year accelerated master's degree in computer engineering. I will be career bound.  I have my plan. I continue to collect homes. I continue to create new goals. I have love. I’m looking forward. The future is mine. I hope that everyone who has pushed me over the past few years also feels that they have achieved this goal. You are my home. Thank you. 

Jaelen Padilla, 2024 Youth of the Year