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Gabriela Otei Castro
As a young girl in Puerto Rico, Gabriela Otei Castro imagined owning her own 业务. As a dog lover it occurred to her that, perhaps, those pieces of her identity could be combined.
It is that combination, 和 what she calls “amazing”
业务 和
animal behavior programs, that drew Castro to Carroll.
Her dream is to own 和 operate her own service dog training 业务 in Puerto Rico, 在哪里, 她说, those opportunities are limited. She currently is a 业务 major minoring in animal behavior 和 on track to graduate with the Class of 2024, in part because of help from her family, her Carroll mentors 和 an
Opportunity Scholarship.
In her 业务 classes, she is learning how to start her own 业务 as well as how “to be one of the best 业务es in the world,卡斯特罗说。, who added that her goal is for her future service dog training 业务 to grow globally. Castro credits her professors, who she said help each student uncover how they can make a real change in today’s world.
Prior to attending Carroll, Castro participated in the
Pioneer Bridge program, a high school to college orientation program for first generation 和 underrepresented students. The opportunity gave her a head start on building relationships on campus 和 gaining access 和 exposure to the resources available to students, which has proven beneficial.
“From day one my mentor helped me prepare myself for my first year at Carroll,” she explained. “And he was there whenever one of us ever needed help. 也, (multicultural enrollment admission counselor) Miguel Rodríguez ’12 advised me about the amazing opportunities here at Carroll 和 has helped me with everything around campus.”
Professors have also been instrumental in Castro’s success toward her goals. Whether she needs extra lab time or help with a subject, the faculty involved in her education have been more than helpful. 但是对于卡斯特罗来说, her own ambition 和 the love 和 support from her mom 和 newfound friends at Carroll, are what continue to drive her.
Three other students from Puerto Rico have become among her closest confidantes 和 support system on campus. Though they’d never met until arriving at Carroll, Castro said their bond was immediate.
“Thanks to my amazing friends, I know that I can always count on them when I am sad or when I am missing home,”她说。. “We have made so many good 和 bad memories, 即使有COVID, but this has been one of the best college experiences thanks to them. I don't consider them my friends. I already consider them my family here at Carroll.”
Although her mom 和 family are more than 2,000 miles away in Puerto Rico 和 she is so far from home for the first time, she feels their pride.
“My family has always wanted what is best for me. When I told them that I had been accepted to Carroll, they were so happy 和 proud of me to be attending my dream college 在哪里 I can pursue my goals,”她说。. “I really do miss them a lot, but I know that they are super proud of me.”
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