INTERVIEW #22: FEATURING AHRIEL DELGADO

AHRIEL DELGADO is not currently living in El Bronx (home to my Tio Noelle and a lot of other people’s tips) but she was born there. Instead, every ounce of her Taina stature and perfectly sculptured Spanish cheekbones, have been gracing (though I suspect they are not worthy) the picturesque Pocono Mountains. I am not currently living in Manhattan, though my father was born there, instead I am living in Picturesque Buffalo, New York, and the story of what AhRiel Delgado means to me is profound.

When I began this project in Dec of 2019, I started by writing about women in education. A shift came when I started “looking” for women to write about, that for whatever reason, “needed” to be recognized and written about. AhRiel Delgado is one of those women. She believes in herself enough to know the power of small-town girls with dreams. Who cares where you are from? How many people are in your town, or how small or dark your future may look from the outside? Who cares how small your chance is, the only reason you got one is because you think you do!

GO FOR IT. That is what her life displays or models.

Positive affirmations are phrases that you say to yourself to affirm and build yourself up, specifically when your body is under stress. I wasn’t taught coping skills and self-esteem building, rather my greatest insecurities were turned into nicknames. AhRiel has the eyes of someone who believes in themselves.  23 years old, young, but wise enough to know her talents, which sometimes take people a lifetime to discover. Naturally, her entire family’s culture is built on music. Rightfully, those who walk the journey before us enlighten our steps. Her great-grandfather was a writer (Spanish), she told me, he wrote a book of poems to her great-grandmother, who was Taina, to convince her to marry him, or so the story goes. 

Is it possible that when the pen hit the paper generations ago, the universe knew about AhRiel? Knew that this man and this woman’s union and lineage would lead to a soul who would change my life? AhRiell made me brave enough to write about artists, and since I wanted to be one, even writing about them makes me feel revolutionary. It’s like starting over after three years-AhRiel Delgado- artist and businesswoman, number one. 

What’s an artist? An artist is a soul that knows its gifts. They put their emphasis on building up that gift so they can share it with the world; that is the most important part. The person receiving your gift can mean so much about how you feel. That is why I write, to my invisible audience, my readers whom I can’t see but know. I know you are there, and I want to share it with you. Look for her in print in the Latino papers in your local Latino businesses. If your hometown isn’t getting a delivery but you are reading this and you want a paper – reach out to me. This entire project is based on people giving other people hope. 

Join AhRiel”s audience, follow her, listen to her, comment on her, like her statuses, message her, “engage” as they would say, with someone who knows the power of positive thought.  See yourself in her, the part of yourself that wanted to do or be something different than you are or do now.

I created Latinaherstory to celebrate the life of my grandmother. As I was writing I recalled my Abuela was a singer, she loved to sing “En mi Viejo San Juan.”  Telling my aunts, she used to “sing” when she was younger for the farm workers.

I see my grandmother in AhRiel.  When the pen hit the paper for AhRiel”s first song, did God know she would remind me, three years after my grandmother’s passing, about one of my grandmother’s most private aspirations — to sing, to be an artist as well?

INTERVIEW WITH AHRIEL DELGADO

1. What is the name of your business/artistry? I decided to go with AhRiel in 2019. I needed something new and adding an H to my name seems to be all I needed.
2. Why? Even though I only added one letter to my original name, I decided I liked the pronunciation better. My real name is supposed to be pronounced ah-riel, but many people associate my name with the little mermaid. Even though it is one of my favorite Disney movies, I would like for people to associate my name with me.
3. Where were you born and what values were taught in your home?  I was born in Queens NY and lived there till I was about 6. My home was always full of music and family. My parents always taught me about the importance of being kind and keeping my imagination alive. I learned to value family and those who care for me. Family or not. 
4. What was your experience like as a student?  I liked school and learning a lot. I still do. It was a little harder for me to understand things taught in class, but I had amazing teachers that spent extra time with me to make sure I finally understood anything I was having an issue with. Growing up with dyslexia also made it hard for me because I was constantly thrown off. I always pushed through and I’m grateful I did because I may not like learning anything new if I didn’t have to, as I got older.
5. How do you define an artist? – An artist is someone who shares their passion with others. No matter what it is or whom it’s shared with. Someone who pours themselves into something they love doing or making.
6. How do you define a businessperson?  I’ve always seen a businessperson as someone who pays attention to the small details of the analytics of anything and understands why they are important. Someone who can separate what is important for themselves and someone else and what is not. Understanding there is a meaning for everything that’s done and what action or plan is necessary to reach whatever goal or goals they have.
7. Where do you see the intersection between both?  Understanding that both are necessary to grow. They are both important to each other is the biggest intersection for me. Sometimes you need one or the other and there are times that you need both. To understand how to grow and what needs to be done. Being an artist and businessperson becomes very important to one’s success in anything.
8. What is your theory on human potential?  Potential lies in the belief in oneself. I feel that most people overthink this and feel that the only way to have potential is to meet the criteria in someone else’s eyes. If you know there is always more to learn and unlearn, your potential is limitless. No matter what you do.
9. What is your remedy for a long day?  I love a warm bath with salts and bubbles. Taking care of my body by applying the lotion head to toe with a lotion that smells cozy and natural. A face mask and skincare routine after, then falling asleep to nature sounds. Sometimes meditation before I fall asleep.
10. What are your values?  My values are still the same as what I was taught when I was little. I’ve also learned about the value of self-love and self-care. They are just as important as anything else. The world is taught to care for others and put others first, but I’ve learned I can’t give someone my best if I’m not giving it to myself first. If I’m not taking care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally, I can’t efficiently help anyone else figure out how to do that for themselves.
11. What is your favorite thing about yourself?  I’m always excited to try and learn new things, but I do not have a problem saying no if doing something is not good for me, but maybe for someone else. I finally care enough about making myself comfortable first. I loved that I’ve learned that it’s okay to say no and that the actions of others have less to do with me and more with themselves. Because of my want for learning new things, I’ve learned that and so much more.