“You’re either going to end up dead or in jail and I know that if he would have gotten in I would have been in the same gang too at this time and I wouldn’t be here studying”.

BY LESLIE IGNACIO
EL NUEVO SOL

When a high school student receives a rejection letter from a university it often feels like there’s not much else for them to look forward to. Unless the university offers the Equal Opportunity Program and can help admit the student and give them an opportunity for higher education.

This was the case for 20-year-old CSUN student, Brian Castillo, who is currently pursuing a double major in Chicano/a Studies and Sociology and aspiring to attend law school to become a public defender. Although in his third year, Castillo never believed he would attend a four-year university.

Life was not always easy as a male in the streets of Central Los Angeles where Castillo grew up. Raised in a low income household with seven siblings it wasn’t an easy task to stay focused and dedicated in school.

“Even though my resources were really limited I still pushed through with what I had. I was always around gangs, around me there was a lot of drugs. There was no support in my household and I didn’t graduate middle school. In sixth grade I was arrested and I already had a record”, said Castillo.

And life became more difficult when Castillo had to watch his older brother become involved in drugs. And as they both began to question whether they should join a  gang.

“For many years, since I was in seventh grade I saw my brother abuse drugs. I saw him in jail, I saw him coming in and out of jail all the time. I saw him fight with my parents and sisters and at one point he wanted to fight me. He even threatened me saying if I didn’t give him his drugs he was going to hit me and I was small so I knew I couldn’t fight him. So, what I did was just give them to him because I knew I had no other option… And this went on for about 5 years and it didn’t stop until they diagnosed him as a schizophrenic”, said Castillo.

Castillo always looked up to his brother and it was hard for him because after his brother’s diagnosis it was as if his older brother was now his baby brother who he felt the need to take care of.

After a few years, he learned it was not a life he wanted to continue living and knew he had to make a change for himself so that he could get his family out of the area. Although he feels he knows others have it worse, he didn’t think he would have ever seen as much as he did.

“You’re either going to end up dead or in jail and I know that if he would have gotten in I would have been in the same gang too at this time and I wouldn’t be here studying”, said Castillo.

When Castillo arrived to CSUN he was able to find the support system he felt he lacked before. He found a second family in programs like Equal Opportunity Program and TRIO student support services. Those programs helped him see his dreams much more reachable as they helped him in his university path.

“I’ve seen his confidence build, I have seen him interact with the students, how he does not hesitate to share his experiences with other students. He’s always encouraging them to follow their dreams to follow their goals and he serves as a role model by his actions and by his words. He’s a very caring person and a very dedicated and I could see many good things coming out of him”, said Frank Muñiz, director of TRIO.

Brian Castillo ready to assist other students as they walk into the TRIO SSS office. Photo by: Leslie Ignacio/El Nuevo Sol

As a first generation college student, Castillo feels that although he’s had the support of his family he has gone through a lot on his own. Yet his passion for representing his community correctly allow him to continue pursuing his dreams.

“It hurts to know that people I know have been killed, people are into drugs now and they gave up their life. People are in jail for years for misdemeanors. And these are people I grew up with and it hurts, but I don’t want to be like them or follow in their footsteps either. I got to put my life into it and become someone in this life because ain’t nobody going to give me that anymore so I have to grind and push forward”, said Castillo.

Castillo wants to someday be a public defender because he has experienced and seen misrepresentation and is tired of it.

“I think it’s time for a change and that’s what I want to do. I want to make a change in my community, change in life and change for the brown people and the black people because there’s no justice with us. People don’t care about us and we’re all we got.. because no one’s going to do it if it’s not raza”, said Castillo.

During his time at the university he has experienced stares and comments when walking into a class for the way he looks through the eyes of others. Although, he doesn’t let that affect him as he knows his work will show the opposite of what others may believe.

“You still got this hood guy, coming out and doing his thing trying to get his degree and that pushes me. Although I have a lot of hard work it drives me because I’m thinking to myself, you’ve made it this far already why are you going to stop now?”, said Castillo.

Castillo will spend the spring semester in D.C. as part of an internship program as he continues to follow his dreams. His hard work is paying off and yet this is only the beginning of his journey.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from programs like the Equal Opportunity Program please click here.