It’s been a while since we’ve introduced someone new as part of the Community Narrative Project! Meet David Castillo-Moreira, a current junior concentrating in International & Public Affairs – Policy & Governance.

Tell me a little about yourself.

My name is David Castillo-Moreira. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Originally, I’m from Downtown L.A. but moved to South L.A. and I currently live in Central L.A. I’m a junior concentrating in IAPA, which is International & Public Affairs. I’m considering double concentrating in Economics. My family is from Ecuador and I am a first-generation college student. 

The open curriculum drove me to apply to Brown because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I had a sense of what my interests were, but at the same time, I was interested in learning about the different courses and concentrations that Brown had to offer. The open curriculum was the perfect way for me to do so. From there, I gained an interest in law, government, and business. My future career path falls in line with one of those three sectors. 

As for my free time, I really enjoy running, getting outdoors, taking photos, and listening to music. Most of the time I’m caught in my own thoughts. I’m very independent and do my own thing, but I also love being in groups. 

Where do you see yourself after Brown?

That’s a good question. I’ve thought about it. I’m the type of person that looks into the future, constantly making new plans, making new schedules, and always looking for the next thing. I always want to have something to work toward, otherwise I feel a bit lost. 

I have always considered pursuing graduate school, whether that’s Law school or Business school. I want to attain a JD (law degree) or an MBA (business degree). Beyond that, I see myself working. Now that I’ve been at Brown for over 2 years, I kind of fell in love with the East Coast. Here I’m constantly traveling from city to city, whether it’s DC, New York, Boston, or Hanover in New Hampshire. I’m constantly all over the place so I see myself moving to the East Coast, possibly moving to one of the major East Coast cities. Doing what? I don’t know, but I see myself moving over and starting a life around here.

What are some things that help keep you grounded?

It would definitely be my family and friends. I say that because they’ve been big support systems throughout now and college. Just in life in general. 

For example, I’m really close to my brother. Whenever I have events, whether it’s running a marathon or a half-marathon, or I’m struggling with a specific course, or I just have a random question, or I just want to hang out, he’s there for me. I always reach out to him, to my parents, to my grandmother because I think, for me, it is really important to feel heard but at the same time know that they’re doing okay and for them to know that I’m doing okay. It makes being a college student much easier, knowing that I can just focus on my classes and academics and simultaneously remind myself why I’m here and what my objectives are here. 

And again, my friends, even though I don’t have my family nearby, my friends are a reflection of my family. They have similar values and thought processes. I can relate to them really well, so whenever we go out to eat or hang out or just study, it helps keep me grounded. So my friends and family are very important to me.

How have your personal values helped you navigate your experience at Brown?

In general, I would say that I am a very motivated person. I say that because it takes very little incentive for me to do something. Whether that’s running, academics, or just life in general, I’m a very motivated person so when someone tells me I can’t do something it increases my drive to prove them wrong. 

Apart from commitment and motivation, I feel like honesty is a big part of who I am. I like to have open communication with whoever I am speaking to. I want to make sure I’m on the same page as them and that has played a role when communicating with my professors, my classmates, and in projects. I like to make sure that I am always open with them. 

In general, I am also a very loyal person. I value the people that I let into my life and I try to make sure that they know it. If I commit to someone as a person, I’ll do my best to do whatever they need from me and go from there.

What community at Brown has been influential in making it feel like a home?

I would say it’s a combination of various communities. I’m not part of Latinx housing but this year I have become closer to that community. It has helped me find people that have similar backgrounds to mine. I was a bit timid and shy during my freshman and sophomore years. I was afraid that people would judge me and now I’m more confident, in the sense that I don’t care about what other people think. I want to do my own thing. I realized that having people from a similar background to mine has helped a lot with that. 

I really enjoy running and I did a lot of running in high school. Apart from cross country, I did a program called Students Run L.A., which is actually the sweater I’m wearing right now. It involves marathon training and things of that nature for students in L.A. Apart from the running and staying healthy components of the program, Students Run L.A. was important to me because it instilled motivation in me to do things. My dedication to things, to different things, not only running. 

I would say another specific group that has helped is the Run Club. Through the Run Club, I have been able to destress after classes by going for a run, meeting new people, playing music, and stuff like that. I feel like it has been a continuation of some of my best memories in high school and over to college so that’s why it has helped make me feel at home.

If there was a piece of advice you could give your first-year self, what would it be?

I touched a little bit on this in the prior question, but freshman and sophomore year I was very shy and timid. I was constantly thinking about what other people were thinking, which created a lot of anxiety for me. I would advise you not to care so much. You should just not care about what others think and do your own thing.

Now as a junior, even though it’s only been about a month, I have felt like I have really grown. I’m more confident and I do my own thing now. I make sure that I am doing things for myself and not for other people. I believe that’s a big part of it because freshman and sophomore year I was doing things to go with the flow and to just be part of it. Now I’m a bit grown up, in the sense that if I don’t enjoy something, I won’t do it.

Getting comfortable in your own skin and doing work you enjoy. I’d probably advise that.