written by: Natalia Chino '23

Growing up in Cobble Hill in Brooklyn and then moving to Jersey City, New Jersey where she has resided for most of her life, Ciara Castillo '23 has learned the importance of being able to adapt and thrive in new environments.

Ever since she was a little girl, Castillo loved to play sports in her bustling neighborhood that always had a game going on. She described her home as a place that has enough culture, character, and vibrancy to win anyone over who has ever visited. On top of loving the urban feel of Jersey City, Castillo enjoyed how her town prioritized sports in an engaging way. She was no stranger to the high-level competition that her high school offered where she played on both the varsity basketball and softball teams. With the encouraging support of her family, Castillo was a dual-sport athlete in her teenage years where she developed the skills of collaboration and discipline that prepped her to play sports at a higher caliber in college. Being on a team showed her how to effectively communicate with others to accomplish goals, while also learning how to support each other's struggles both on and off the field.

Fully equipped with knowing how to be a contributing member as part of a team, Castillo made the big decision to come to Wesleyan after attending Wes Fest and the students of color weekend reception during her senior year of high school. It was during those few days being on campus and staying overnight that she realized that Wesleyan has a small but very welcoming community that reminded her of the things she appreciated for her education. Not only was Castillo blown away by how scenic the campus was on her visit, but she also loved how updated and new all the facilities were because she knew she would make great use of all of those resources. Given the opportunity to walk onto both women's basketball and softball teams, Castillo valued that she could pursue her athletic passions while also exploring her academic and social interests under the guidance of an open curriculum that encouraged curiosity and critical thinking. To quote her directly, "Wes was a no brainer!"

Reflecting on the past three years at Wesleyan, Castillo has benefited from incredible opportunities and has made many of her favorite memories with her classmates. While at Wes, Castillo describes how time management is the biggest skill she uses and is still learning to use as she navigates academics, athletics, and a social life. Although the academics are rigorous, she appreciates how the open curriculum allows her to take worthwhile courses that she is interested in and hone in on Psychology and Education, both majors that she has declared on top of her minor in Caribbean studies. Furthermore, Castillo makes no mistake in showing consistent and strong love for her friends and intelligent professors, while also enjoying the campus food…a lot! She details how she looks forward to every meal at Usdan because not only will she get to indulge in some of her favorites including Saturday brunch pancakes and grilled cheese with tomato soup, she will also enjoy quality time with her teammates in a more casual setting off the field and court. While the food is great, Castillo also loves being a student-athlete because it has made her a vibrant member of one huge family. Some of the best memories she has with her family is enjoying meals from Mondo's together in their cozy Fauver apartment, locker room dances after big wins, and watching The Office or New Girl while they all laugh for hours and gossip about the latest celebrity drama.

From being on both teams, she has found a group of women that will always have her back and always have her best interests in mind. Knowing that she can rely on her teammates and coaches for almost anything has made her feel incredibly lucky. It is a type of bond you can't find anywhere else in the world and is something she will miss deeply when she graduates soon. However, she looks forward to navigating life after college with a network of friendships that will keep her grounded and a knowledge that will keep her creative.