Student Spotlight: Merging Two Distinctive Industries into a Natural Pair

When you think of the field of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences (YFCS), television production may not be the first career to come to mind. But for Angelena Castro, a YFCS master of science student, the two industries are a natural pair.

Before coming to NC State University, Castro earned an undergraduate degree in journalism and mass communication at NC A&T State University. She plans to combine both degrees to pursue a career in educational children’s television production. “I believe that working in children’s programming requires an in-depth knowledge of the various diverse family backgrounds, social issues, and concerns that affect children and their families,” Castro says of her decision to pursue a master’s degree in YFCS. “My graduate work is preparing me to address these topics in a manner that will foster positive impacts for families.” She has found the graduate program to be an excellent fit for her interests and goals and understands the value that graduate education in family sciences will bring to her career. “The high academic standards of the NC State YFCS program are preparing me to excel further in my future career goals in youth and family services,” Castro notes. “I love that the program allows us to research and problem solve real-life issues that many families struggle with on a daily basis. I am learning skills that are preparing me to be an effective change agent.”

Castro has a diverse background in youth development and youth programming, including at the international level, while working as a Peace Corps service member in the Dominican Republic. Castro worked in a rural community alongside a school psychologist and director to plan relevant programming for youth in the community on topics including sexual health education, positive self-image, and career development. She also applied her education in journalism and communications to her Peace Corps experience and taught workshops to youth on public speaking, podcast creation, and script writing. Being part of the Peace Corps was a formative experience for Castro, as “it was important for me to work with young people that not only I could identify with, but for me to be someone they could identify with as well. Often countries that receive foreign volunteers for aid or educational purposes rarely see someone that looks like them.” 

When describing her experience as a YFCS student, Castro emphasizes the collaborative and practical design of the program, noting that “I have had the opportunity to learn from engaging professors and collaborate with knowledgeable classmates. I feel excited to learn more every week of classes.” Maru Gonzalez, an assistant professor and youth development specialist in the department and Castro’s academic advisor, has been essential to her educational journey by “making herself available to me and my peers to ensure that any questions we have regarding our studies are answered.”

Castro’s greatest inspiration is her mother. “Growing up in rural North Carolina where opportunities were limited, she made it possible for me to believe that all of my goals were achievable…what I really admire is her enthusiasm for life and an ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions. I am extremely grateful for being her child, and I cannot thank her enough for everything.”

Castro will graduate in December 2023, ready to apply her knowledge and experience in YFCS to the world of educational children’s television. “I believe in pairing the knowledge I gain at NC State in the youth, family, and community sciences graduate program, along with my B.S. in journalism and mass communication from NC A&T,” says Castro, “I will be equipped to create engaging programming for future generations of children and their parents.”

Good luck with your continued success in our program and your future, Angelena.