Jesna has been working with the Y for nine fun-filled months. A Pensacola native and a proud Argo, she can be found explaining the wonders of the city’s interesting weather or running fun, seasonally-relevant crafts with the children at the Northeast Y’s after-school childcare program.
- How long have you worked with the Y? It has been nine amazing months since I’ve joined the Y family, or pamilya, as it is called in Tagalog, my native language.
- What is your role at the YMCA? I started out as a timid observer from the sidelines (of orientation) and am now a receiver of warm hugs, a football fumbler, and a future purveyor of googly eyes to those who are up for an adventure.
- What is the most interesting part of your job? Personality dynamics! There’s a bunch of proper psychological terms to describe them in detail, but to put it simply: seeing the very human way of how friendships start has always been interesting to me. You never know which of them could end up being friends for life!
- If you could be an animal, what would you be and why? I’m stuck between a tiger and a panda. I’ve always been in awe of a tiger’s strength and the way they hold themselves in the wild. And I think we all need a panda in our lives to remind us to slow down and have some nice cuddles and a bamboo to chew on.
- What you really do at the YMCA? My personal motto about art and design is “It’s all shapes and colors.” Luckily, that’s how the children see it, too! And I’m lucky to be the one to help them see all the possibilities all these shapes and colors have!