Ismael Castanon helps children learn in the La Clase Mágica UC Links after-school program in Solana Beach.
YOUTH VIEWS
Ismael Castanon is a junior at Sunset High School in Solana Beach. He has been a participant in the La Clase Mágica UC Links program for over ten years, and he now serves as a Wizard Assistant in the program. Ismael enjoys reading poetry, particularly the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. During his free time he likes to hang out with his friends. After he graduates from high school, he hopes to go to a four-year university to prepare for an English or poetry career or a career working with computers.
Ismael Castanon: Working for Our Future
I have been participating in La Clase Mágica for about 11 and 1/2 years now. When I first started coming to this program, I didn't really think much of it and only came because my older brothers came, and because I got to play on the computers.
As time passed and I kept coming back, I noticed that the people from UC San Diego aren't there because they have to be there, but because they want to help you. At first I didn’t think this program would have such a big impact in my life, but boy was I wrong. Through this program I learned most of my English and math, and about computers in general.
Now you might ask yourself, what would make me keep coming back for 11 and 1/2 years? Well, it's very simple. This program made a big difference in my life and helped me out a lot. I am going to do whatever it takes to keep it going so it can help the younger kids that attend the program now, because they are our future and they should have the same opportunities that I had growing up.
Last spring, I gave a speech to our city council and the chamber of commerce to let them know about our program and to ask them to support our fundraising activities. We were hoping that people would donate more computers and supplies to our program. After my speech, a couple of people did donate computers.
At first I was really nervous. It was my first time speaking in public to such an important group. But I calmed down because I was speaking about a program I really care about. Everything worked out really well. I felt happy with the way my speech turned out.
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Links for Kids
Youth Views
Ismael Castanon
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