This guest essay is by Andres Castillo. I am a self-autism advocate and an author. I am proud to be an author and illustrator for two years.
Personal Statements:
I have worked on a second book for three years. It will be four years this coming July. It would be the same content as my first book, but mostly a second edition. On February 2026, I just got accepted into the Electronic/Broadcast Journalism program at University of Central Florida since I had an “A” in Professional Writing as an upper-level writing course at UNC Fayetteville State. I took the Accuplacer test for reading and writing for about ten days before I turned 28 on my birthday. I was close to passing the score, but I was failing on the placement test of Accuplacer for reading and writing. Other than that, I still made it to the Journalism program at University of Central Florida. I lived in the states of Washington, North Carolina, and Texas for three years. As I said before, I lived in the state of Virginia for six to seven months. I lived in Puerto Rico for a year. I lived in the states of Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina for two years. Finally, I moved back to Central Florida at age 27. It was right after I came back for vacation in Puerto Rico for two months. The colleges I have been to are Savannah Technical College, Harford Community College, Valencia College, Fayetteville State University, and University of Central Florida. I have been to five different colleges. I was in Pell Grant for six years of college experiences due to maintaining higher grades in high school and college. I know some words in French and German from Duolingo app as well as I relearned Spanish as a language. Back in high school, I worked as an office assistant from the main office for my Vocational Skills program. It was for about an hour. It was required to earn my high school credit for 11th grade. It was just my first volunteer job. It was back in Puerto Rico. It was not a real job. I will be completing my junior year credits at University of Central Florida after this spring semester is over. I will be in my senior year at University of Central Florida this coming fall semester. I went to see therapists from Fayetteville State University and University of Central Florida.
College graduation:
While my stepdad was away from deploying in college, I went to reintroduce my birth dad and my bio uncle to hang out with them outdoors. I invited them to my college graduation to complete an Associate of Arts degree. It has changed my life as an adult. Although I do not know them very well, I have gotten a chance to get to know them in person as an adult. It has influenced me that I am more mature with them as an adult. I ate at Chillis with my family members at my mom’s side. I was so glad that I was able to see my birth dad and my bio uncle in person as adults. My bio uncle bought me candies, and a few books at Five Below.
My hobbies:
Reading books, going outdoors, spending time with family, working on a second book, watching shows, movie night with my family members and playing video games on the weekends.
My extracurriculars in middle school and high school:
Back in middle school, it was basically theatre and choir for taking performing arts courses. I was a member of the Boys and Girls Club as well as Teen Center in the summer. Back in high school, it was also theatre and choir for also taking performing arts courses.
Awards from middle school and high school:
• Honor roll certificates four times in middle school
• Boys and Girls Club certificate in seventh grade
• Eighth grade graduation certificate in the ceremony
• Skills program certificate in eighth grade
• Honor roll certificates six times in ninth through eleventh grade
• National Honor Society certificate and collard in twelfth grade
• Yellow honor cord for receiving 90% or above in twelfth grade
Awards from college:
• Mu Theta Alpha (Math Honor Society) certificate for being a member of the club at Harford Community College
• Blue and yellow business cord for being a member of the club at Valencia College
• Latin American Student Organizational stole for being a member of the club at Valencia College
• Dean’s List five times for maintaining 6 credit hours in my sophomore year and junior year at Valencia College and Fayetteville State University
• National Society of Leadership and Success certificate for being a member of the organization at Fayetteville State University
• Student Leadership Development Course Certification at Fayetteville State University
• President’s List for maintaining 6 credit hours in my junior year at Fayetteville State University
Languages:
• Fluent in Spanish and English
This essay was submitted to the KFM Making a Difference scholarship program, founded by Dr. Kerry Magro to support autistic students pursuing postsecondary education. Publication does not announce a scholarship award.
