College Experiences That Helped a Principal at Legacy College Prep Succeed
Evelyn's diverse undergraduate majors in women's studies, sociology, and Spanish provided a foundation for a career in education, with sociology informing their understanding of "how students of color experience societal and structural challenges". Campus organization involvement led to community service opportunities and a part-time job tutoring and mentoring high school students, solidifying their passion for the field.
Education, Sociology, Community Service, Mentorship, Higher Education
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Evelyn Castro
Principal
Legacy College Prep- Ednovate Charter Schools
UC Santa Barbara, 2009
Loyola Marymount University- Masters in Administration and Admin Credential
Anthropology, Sociology, Ethnic & Related Studies
Education
Education
Honors Student, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Evelyn's diverse undergraduate majors (Women's Studies, Sociology, and Spanish) provided a strong foundation for her education career, highlighting the value of interdisciplinary learning.
2. Involvement in campus organizations offered opportunities for community service and part-time work in education, demonstrating the importance of extracurricular activities in career exploration.
3. Seeking out part-time jobs or volunteer experiences in education, even during college, allowed Evelyn to gain practical experience and confirm her passion for the field, suggesting that early engagement is beneficial.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I think some of the things I did that are relevant, first in terms of my majors, I graduated with a bachelor's in three different majors: Women's Studies, Sociology, and Spanish. All of them later played a role in my transition to the education field.
Sociology taught me a lot about youth. I took many classes around education and social injustices, which allowed me to really learn particularly about the experiences of students of color and how that leads to other societal and structural challenges. In terms of Spanish, I was actually a Spanish teacher when I started in education.
Other experiences, like being involved in organizations on campus, were super helpful. It's a way of doing things outside of the school or college setting. Through my organization, for example, I had a community service requirement. This is actually what allowed me to first seek community service hours at a local elementary school and high school.
That led into a job I had while in college. Being a part of organizations can help you become aware of your passions or allows you to experiment with different areas you might not have been thinking of. Through that, I found a part-time job as a high school tutor and mentor while I was in college. Being able to exercise that passion, whether through an official job with compensation or volunteering, are things I did that were part of my decision to go into this field.