Heyssis Castillo ’22
Hometown: Boston, MA
Major: Anthropology
Minor: Women, Gender, and Sexuality
Extracurricular Involvement: Trinity College Quirks (a capella), Elemental Dance Crew, Caribbean Student Association
Email: [email protected]
Why did you join the multicultural requirement team?
I joined the Multicultural Recruitment Team because I was able to experience the impact they had on prospective students firsthand during Preview Weekend 2017. I knew I wanted to have an impact on other students who may come from a similar background as me with limited opportunities. Joining this team has given me the chance to do just that.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your first semester on campus?
The biggest lesson I learned from my first semester on campus was that organization is everything. In high school, I did not need to be super organized to get things done. It was not difficult to stay on top of things without a planner. However, coming to college completely flipped my bad habit of not writing things down. I fell behind due to my lack or organizational skills. After realizing this, I immediately invested in a planner and things went up from there!
How has a liberal arts education fostered your thinking? What class impacted you the most?
The beauty of a liberal arts institution is the ability it gives students to dip their toes into different fields of interest. While being here, I have taken classes in nearly nine different fields, some of which overlap each other, such as music and women, gender, and sexuality studies. Being able to take classes that combine multiple interests not only makes it easier to double major, but it also makes courses more interesting than I would have ever imagined them to be.
A class that has impacted me the most is The Anthropology of Violence. The professor took their time to get to know their students and cultivated a space where people felt safe enough to share their opinions and ask questions without feeling judged. I also appreciated the course material. Everything we were learning was relevant and super interesting. There was never a day where I was bored or disengaged from the class, despite it being a night class.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
While being at Trinity, I have participated in numerous clubs and organizations. Despite the plethora of options provided for students, I believe there are still so many spaces that have not yet been created that many people will benefit from. Before I graduate, I hope to create a fifth acapella group on campus, one that specifically focuses on music by people of color; Trinity’s very own P.O.C.-apella! I think Trinity’s acapella community is great, but I believe we are missing a space that devotes itself to commemorating Black and brown artists from the past and present.
How has the city of Hartford impacted your college experience?
Coming from a city, I knew I wanted a similar environment during my four years in college. Hartford was the perfect place. I knew that Hartford’s rich Hispanic culture would help me adapt quicker because it reminded me so much of home. If I ever feel overwhelmed within the Trinity bubble, all I have to do is step outside into a local Bodega or restaurant and instantly feel better. It’s the little things like this that count.
What is a random fact about you that people might not know?
A random fact about me is that I am the only person in my entire family with green eyes. Everyone else has brown eyes!
What is your favorite event on campus?
My favorite event would have to be the Caribbean Student Association Fashion Show in the spring! I love seeing students from all different backgrounds strut in the beautiful clothes designed by such talented people. I also enjoy the different performances, the vibrant colors, and the irresistible music that is played throughout the show. It’s definitely a highlight of the semester.
What space on campus makes you feel at home?
It does not really matter where I am on campus. I could be in the library or in the dining hall. As long as I am with my best friends, anywhere feels like home. The people I have met while being here have really made my time far better than I imagined. I have made brothers and sisters that I would not trade for the world!
