Malaya Castillo

Leadership, outreach, reflection, engagement, community.

The University Honors Program is for me because it has given me valuable opportunities for public speaking and a strong foundation to grow as a leader. It challenges me to think critically, engage with others, and reflect on my accomplishments, which are skills that will be essential in my future career. UHP has pushed me outside the classroom and helped shape how I lead, communicate, and contribute with purpose.

Serving in my family’s mission in Mole Saint Nicolas, Haiti has definitely had the biggest impact on me. Going back to where I grew up felt like coming home, but this time I got to step into new leadership roles and take on more responsibility. Last summer, I led Children’s Church, planned campus-wide games, and ran a resilience camp for kids from some of the poorest parts of our village. I brought in over a thousand pounds of supplies and really pushed myself to grow—whether that was speaking in front of large groups, improving my Creole, or learning how to plan programs on the fly. It reminded me that leadership is about showing up for people and growing alongside them.

Don’t stress yourself out. You don’t have to do everything at once; there’s time to grow, learn, and figure it out. Just breathe and trust the process.

I’m really looking forward to getting back involved on campus. I’ve stepped into three new leadership roles this year, and I’m excited to create opportunities for students to come together and build community. It’s also a great chance for me to network with people in my field and grow both personally and professionally.