STC faculty member shapes the next generation of child care workers

Dedicated to mentorship and shaping the minds of tomorrow, South Texas College (STC) Child Development faculty member Ana Castillo recently shared how the college transformed her career path, enabling her to pursue a childhood dream.

 “From a very young age I witnessed firsthand the importance of community, education and nurturing the development of young children,” Castillo explained. “I was also confident that I was going to be a teacher one day, however, my journey to the classroom was far from a smooth experience, but STC helped make it happen.” 

 Originally from Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Castillo’s childhood took a life-altering turn, an experience she said became pivotal in shaping her outlook on life and fueling her desire to support and uplift others through education. 

 “After moving to San Juan, Texas when I was only five years old, my family was faced with the tragic loss of my father, just 3 months after relocating to the United States,” Castillo explained. “That experience not only changed the dynamic of my family, but it set forth my path in wanting to pursue a career where I can support and nurture the development of children, just as I needed at that time in my life.”

Despite navigating through the complexities of grief and growing up, Castillo was driven to jump into a college degree, graduating one year early from, what is now, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) Memorial Early College High School in 2002. Her determination sent her to Lansing, Michigan. 

“I graduated as a junior, I was ready to start my life with my husband and we set off to Michigan for college,” Castillo said. “After enrolling at a community college there, I felt out of place and decided to focus on finding a job. I became a babysitter, caring for babies and toddlers. Doing that job brought me so much joy, it solidified my desire to be an educator.”  

In 2004, Castillo returned to the Rio Grande Valley and enrolled at STC four years later, where she discovered her calling in child development. 

“My sights were set on becoming a teacher, so I dove right into the education program at STC,” Castillo said. “I took some child development courses and that’s when it all clicked for me. I became a double major and pursued my education and child development degrees, simultaneously.”

As she worked toward her degrees, Castillo was required to complete field-study hours and learned about the college’s accredited Child Development Center (CDC) at STC’s Mid-Valley campus, where fulfilling her observation hours quickly turned into a teaching assistant position.

“Working at the child development center was transformative for me,” she shared. “I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom, in a professional setting. I was supporting children and families directly. It was fulfilling to see the impact of my work, and this ultimately fueled my fire to get my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Although it meant I would be working at the center and traveling to and from Kingsville to complete my graduate studies, my heart knew STC was home.”

Her time at the CDC not only helped her grow as an educator, but it also provided her with valuable insights into the complexities of early childhood education and how her own resilience can serve as an example to the students she mentors. 

“Between working at the center and healing from my own childhood experiences, I learned so much about the importance of supporting children to ensure their stability, emotional and cognitive development. Considering where my story started and where I am now, it feels like a full circle moment,” Castillo recalled. “It reinforced my commitment not only to this field, but to this institution and it ignited my desire to mentor future child care workers.”

Now, with more than a decade of experience at the college, Castillo is dedicated to empowering her students as they explore the profession out in the field, often sharing her personal story to instill in each student a sense of resilience and determination.

“More than anything, I want my students to understand that despite life’s challenges and where our stories start, they can achieve their dreams. It takes passion, empathy and patience to mold the future generation,” she said. “I hope to be a role model who shows them that resilience and consistency is key to success.”

With STC’s unwavering support, Castillo says her dream not only became a reality, but it has given her a chance to give back to her community. 

“The support I have received from the college as a student and now an educator has been invaluable, life changing,” Castillo shared. “STC provided me with the tools and opportunities I needed to grow both personally and professionally. I’m grateful that my dream as an adolescent turned into a reality. I can give back to my community through education and that is the legacy I hope to keep.”