By Janna Rojas
Special to Campus News
Born and raised in the Bronx, Justin Castro didn't plan to go to college. His idea was to go straight to work or join the Army.
But he loved politics, and his parents encouraged him to study something in the political field. “My mom convinced me; she was like, ‘Please go to college,’” Castro said. “And you could study political science. I didn't even know you could study politics in college. I was like, ‘Wait, what?’”
Castro, who completed community college, is now getting his master’s degree in Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center and is considering going for a Ph.D. and becoming a professor. He said he wants to make a difference in his community with the skills and knowledge gained from his time as a student and political intern.
Both of his parents played a crucial role in nurturing his academic pursuits, he said. Castro remembers his father surprising him with a movie depicting a historical period he was obsessed with, Exploits of Attila the Hun. “Both of my parents nurtured the flames of my passion for academia,” Castro said.
His desire to learn grew even more when he went to Bronx Community College. He fell in love with academia within the first few weeks of classes and met his mentor, Professor Peter Kolozi, an alumnus of the Graduate Center.
When Castro took Kolozi’s class on comparative government, he was hooked, he said.
He was also inspired, he said, by Professor Stanley Renshon, who teaches at both Lehman College and the CUNY Graduate Center. Renshon, Castro said, “explained the fascinating aspects of studying political science at the Graduate Center.”
Castro seized many opportunities at Bronx Community College, one of them being the CUNY ASAP program, a support system for full-time community college students who intend to pursue bachelor’s degrees. It helped him financially and allowed him to afford textbooks whenever he needed them, eliminating any limitations on his education.
Castro then transferred to Lehman College, where he found his curiosity grew.
“I didn't want school to end,” Castro said. “I want to write more. I want to learn more. And I've always heard good things about the CUNY Graduate Center. So I thought, ‘I want to continue.’”
His professors recommended that he apply, and when he was accepted he was thrilled to have the chance to attend the same school as his mentors.
“I have to say, some of my favorite professors graduated from the CUNY Graduate Center,” Castro said. “So I was like, ‘OK, this is meant to be.’”
Castro recalls he found out he was accepted while at his internship in 2023. He couldn't contain his excitement. He texted his parents immediately.
He knew he wanted to continue being part of the CUNY community.
“CUNY holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “CUNY helped me, a student from a working-class family, to pursue my dreams, and how could I forget that?”
Castro is still at that internship with New York City Council member Carmen De La Rosa, who represents Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill. The experience helped him overcome some doubts and know that politics was the path for him.
“I’ve always struggled,” Castro said. “I'm kind of a socially anxious person. So having that kind of on-the-ground experience really opened me up to get myself into politics again.”
Being able to work alongside De La Rosa, who, like him, is Dominican, and working in politics has allowed him to give back to his fellow residents in his neighborhood of Marble Hill, which is mostly Dominican. He aspires to represent New York’s Dominican community in politics.
Castro wants to inspire other students, he said. His advice is to always talk to your professors and show genuine interest in what they’re teaching. “They really love when students go out of their way to express themselves and articulate why they're interested in something,” he said. “They are there to help you and take full advantage of that.”
Janna Rojas is a junior at Queens College studying advertising.
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