Syra Castillo, a recently graduated senior at Rosie Sorrells School of Education & Social Services at Townview, is on her way to the University of Notre Dame with a full-ride scholarship and a clear plan for the future.
“I want to take [television news anchor]David Muir’s job when I get older. That’s my ultimate career goal,” says Syra, who is senior class president and vice president of her yearbook staff.
“I grew up watching him, admiring how he can speak about things that are happening in the world and is able to interview influential people. He is one of my role models. My ultimate aspiration in life is to become like him,” she says.
Syra loves to write and plans to pursue a double major in English and Greek and Roman Civilization, with a minor in Journalism through Notre Dame’s Gallivan Journalism Program. Her favorite subject is English, and she has a self-described “intense fascination with Greek mythology,” having been introduced to the genre through “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” in her freshman Humanities class.
During the height of the pandemic and its isolation, Syra wanted to learn something new to keep herself occupied. “I decided on crochet and taught myself online by watching videos. I got really good at it, really quickly,” she said. Since then, she’s created a small business called Crocheted by Syra, and makes and sells hats, beanies, scarves, and the like. And she’s started a club to share the craft with others. “I decided I wanted to teach others to crochet to de-stress and have a calming place after school if they’re feeling overwhelmed with their courses. It’s worked out really well.”
Outside of school, she participates in Latinas in Progress, a group sponsored by adult Latinas whose main goal is to teach younger girls how to succeed, helping them with the college application process and preparing for life after college. “It’s just a group that is there to help us if we have any questions about what our future might look like,” she says.
In addition, the busy teenager volunteers with the Teen Leadership Council for the Dallas Arboretum. The group helps to recruit other young volunteers for the arboretum and assists with their training and coordination.
She’s also part of the parish youth group at Holy Cross Catholic Church. “I’m a really optimistic person. I love to work hard, and I’m ambitious,” she says.
While she’s looking forward to graduation, Syra says, “I enjoy going to Townview. It’s very diverse and it’s been the best four years of my life. It’s taught me a lot of things – how to manage time and schoolwork, how to be organized and persevere in what I’m doing. I definitely think the classes I’ve taken and the opportunities I’ve had at Townview are the main reasons I was able to be admitted to Notre Dame. I don’t think I would have had that opportunity at another school.”
