BY SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
Age: 17
School: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial High School
Grade: 12th
Parents’ names: David Castillo and Mary Castillo
Extracurricular activities and hobbies: For six years, I have participated in the school’s orchestra as a cellist, gaining recognition at the local and state level for various competitions and solo performances. For two years, I have been a part of the PSJA Memorial Mariachi 2017 State Champions, as lead vihuela. As a part of being a National Honor Society member for three years, I currently volunteer at the Palm Valley Animal Center, gaining over seventy hours towards rehabilitating homeless and sick animals.
What are the pros and cons of living in your city? What would you change? The pros of living in the city of Alamo is the public education that is offered, which is nationally recognized for allowing high schoolers to obtain an associate’s degree from a local college. Due to the city being small it gets to experience the benefits that a big city would not have, such as quietness and less road congestion and people currently leaving in Alamo can travel less than 15 minutes to experience the big city life. Another pro is close family ties within the community, everybody knows somebody and for that reason Alamo happens to be a friendly and loving community greatly differing from any other city. However, the cons of Alamo is the lack of enforcing city ordinances, beautification in the city, and public health by not providing much sidewalk areas or bike trails. Therefore, if I were to change anything in the city I would greatly emphasize the city ordinances such as placing fines because of excess junk cars in home lots, adding more plants, and making sure every street was accompanied with a sidewalk and bike trail.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Can you imagine yourself living and working in the Rio Grande Valley? Why or why not? In 10 years, I picture myself as person who has successfully obtained their degree in Biomedical Sciences and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). By pursing those degrees, I can picture myself working in the Rio Grande Valley by being an employee at a local animal hospital, shelter, or owning my own rescue ranch. Due to the overpopulation of stray animals that the valley has be recognized for state wide, I would like to contribute my help into rehabilitating the animals and getting them off the street. I would like to change the valley reputation from “the place with an overpopulation of stray animals” to “the valley of animals with homes”. Not only would my goal be to help animals but to educate the public on an animal’s health, living conditions, and the responsibilities that come with owning a pet.
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave on the world? A legacy that I would want to leave on the world that I would be known for is, “A woman who followed her dreams and used them to help those who were vulnerable and self-helpless. Always placing her heart after those who she cared for regardless if they were humans or animals. Regardless of where she stood in terms of social class, she was able to break through those barriers to help the world around her. A person who greatly impacted her own community, and influenced other people’s dreams.”
