Resources, mentorship, and strategies for success in college and career
More people of color are attending college each year, making up around 40% of the undergraduate student population in the U.S. Yet, for Latino and Black young men, there are still inequities and barriers to reach college graduation.
According to an American Community Survey, Latino and Black young men have the lowest educational attainment in California, with 13% and 16% holding at least a bachelor’s degree, respectively, compared to women of the same race (24% and 27%, respectively) and white and Asian men (41% and 60%, respectively).
The Public Policy Institute of California notes: “the growing racial gap in bachelor’s degree attainment are significant, considering that a growing share of California’s future labor force will come from these groups.”
This panel dives into personal stories and unique challenges along with the resources and support systems that can make a difference. We hope this conversation helps current and future college students feel understood, connected, and inspired.
- Hear first-hand stories from college students, grads, and leaders
- Learn about challenges and barriers like imposter syndrome as well as the resources, mentorship, and strategies for success
- Understand ways to create more inclusion in higher education and job opportunities
Tune into the panel
“I felt like I wanted to give up, but instead, I pivoted”
After excelling in high school, Dr. Martin Castillo (he/him) faced challenges when arriving at the University of Texas, Austin as an undergraduate student.
“I could not afford to do a lot of the things that my friends were doing. I didn’t look like a lot of the people at UT Austin,” he shared.
“I didn’t take any of these things into consideration. I was just looking at this prize of being the first one from a small town to go to this prestigious university.”
“All of those things weighed on me that first year,” shared Dr. Castillo, who is now the Associate Vice President for Equity & Belonging/Dean of Students at California State University, East Bay.
“I felt like I wanted to give up, and instead, I pivoted to be closer to my family, closer to that support system,” Dr. Castillo shared about his experience transferring to Texas Tech.
“I learned that I could reach back into my own experiences. I didn’t realize my experiences were tools that I could use to help me get through these obstacles that I was facing.”
Dr. Antonio Martinez (he/him) reflected on Dr. Castillo’s experiences.
“You gave yourself permission to transition into a space that was more supportive and ideal for you,” he shared. “I think sometimes, especially for first-generation students, they think if they’re not doing well at a specific institution then that means they can’t do well at any institution, but that’s not always the case.”
“Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what someone needs,” shared Dr. Martinez.
“Imposter syndrome was on my mind that whole semester”
“My transition into my first semester at Cal was probably the most challenging moment of my life,” shared Armando Ramirez (he/him), a Making Waves Academy graduate who started at Contra Costa College and transferred to UC Berkeley and is now a psychology major.
“Imposter syndrome was very much on my mind that whole semester. Do I belong here? Am I wasting a spot for someone else that does belong there?”
“In one of my classes, I really started building relationships with my peers when I realized they’re human too,” shared Armando, who is a part of Making Waves’ college and career success program.
“I think that was just something I really needed to remind myself of: that no matter what institution you go to, everyone there is human. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone fails. You just have to remind yourself that we all struggle in life.”
“When you’re going into these institutions that are really challenging and rigorous, go into it with the mindset that this is for you,” Armando shared about the pressures that come from being a first-generation college student.
“You gotta remind yourself that this is your life. You need to be doing it for yourself. Once you have that mindset, anything’s possible. I’m living proof.”
“It’s not a weakness to ask for help”
For Daniel Shaw (he/him), higher education was about being surrounded by a strong community.
“It was four years of me being around 14,000 people who had similar goals, not just academically but also outside of the classroom,” shared Daniel, who was a part of the first-ever cohort of Making Waves students and attended Morehouse College as an undergraduate student and UCLA for graduate school.
In addition to focusing on academics and building community in college, Daniel shared: “The jobs I got out of college, I got because I went to college. Very directly they came there and recruited me.”
“Learn as much as you can, but at the end of the day, think about what you are trying to get for yourself, where you are trying to go, and make sure that you use that degree, you use that time college, and use that education to get to there,” Daniel shared.
Daniel added that part of this is being comfortable asking for support and leveraging all the resources available on college campuses.
“It’s actually not a weakness to ask for help, but it can be a strength to ask for help, which can then also translate with how you ask for help when you’re in the professional world as well,” Dr. Martinez said in agreement.
“Everything worth having is on the other side of hard”
As panelists added their final words of advice, Dr. Castillo shared: “Figure out how to involve your family, your community, your support system.”
“Bring them into the equation, making them a part of that solution, of that journey, allowing them to experience it with you, if it’s possible, if that’s something that’s available to you.”
Daniel added: “One of the best things I’ve ever heard is that everything worth having is on the other side of hard.”
“You are going to have challenges because moving forward can be hard. When you hit those roadblocks, figure out how to get over them or around them because everything worth having is on the other side of hard,” shared Daniel, who is now Vice President of Brand Marketing at SharkNinja.
Armando’s parting words were about enjoying the journey.
“It’s not always beautiful. Enjoy the moment and enjoy the ride. Take advantage of having your friends right there because once you get into the workforce those possibilities aren’t always going to be there,” Armando said.
“You only live once so enjoy all the experiences, all the moments, all the friends, connections, and social networks. Enjoy the struggles as much as you enjoy the good times,” he shared. “This was a really great journey and I’m proud that I went through it.”
“You’re worthy and your voice matters”
Dr. Martinez wrapped up the panel discussion, sharing: “Success is not always a straight path.”
“Healing, growth, and leadership can coexist with challenge,” he shared. “The presence of men of color in higher education is not a privilege but a powerful necessity.”
“To every student watching and every educator, you belong. You’re worthy and your voice matters.”
“Thank you for joining us and once again thank you to Dr. Castillo, Daniel, and Armando,” he shared. “You’re phenomenal and inspirational.”
Meet the panelists
Panelists
Dr. Martin Castillo
Dr. Martin Castillo (he/him) was born and raised in a small, rural Texas town. He is one of 13 siblings born to hard-working Mexican-American parents who prioritized education for their children as a means to increase life opportunities. His parents also instilled the values of a strong work ethic and helping others.
Dr. Castillo completed his bachelor’s degree (English and journalism double major) and master’s (higher education administration) at Texas Tech University and completed his doctoral program in educational leadership for social justice at Cal State East Bay in 2018. Similar to many first-generation college students, Dr. Castillo worked his way through college as a student leader in housing, student outreach and new student orientation.
Dr. Castillo currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Equity & Belonging/Dean of Students in the Division of Student Affairs at Cal State East Bay. He is a passionate advocate for ensuring access and inclusion opportunities within historically underserved student communities both in and outside of the classroom.
Among other things, Dr. Castillo hopes to reinforce the idea that all students, and especially males of color, are welcome in higher education.
Daniel E. Shaw
A proud native of Richmond, CA—the city of pride and purpose—Daniel Shaw (he/him) was raised in a household where education came first and excellence was the expectation. His parents’ belief in high achievement shaped his own mindset early on: anything less than extraordinary was simply not an option.
Daniel is a graduate of Morehouse College (and an alum of Making Waves Education Foundation’s founding program) and earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He currently serves as Vice President of Brand Marketing for Robot Vacuums at SharkNinja, where he brings over 20 years of experience in global marketing and product strategy, with a particular passion for building consumer-centric digital products.
Daniel hopes attendees walk away with two core ideas. First: expect success. Being invited into a space and choosing to show up means you already belong—and once you’re in the room, you should expect to thrive, not just hope to. Second: be open to new experiences. Even if a path feels unfamiliar or outside your current focus, leaning into those moments can lead to incredible opportunities and growth you might not have imagined.
Armando Ramirez
Armando Ramirez (he/him) was born and raised in Richmond, CA, a town where many first generation students began their journey.
He is currently attending UC Berkeley as a transfer from Diablo Valley College, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in clinical psychology, with the goal of becoming a licensed therapist. Armando is a graduate of Making Waves Academy and a student in Making Waves Education Foundation’s college and career success program.
He aims to be an example that men of color can succeed in higher education, even if they didn’t experience academic success in high school.
Moderator
Dr. Antonio Martinez
Dr. Antonio Martinez (he/him) is a dedicated College Success Coach at Making Waves Education Foundation, where he empowers students, known as Wave-Makers, to overcome academic and personal challenges and stay on course to graduate. With a background in mass communication (BA, California State University, East Bay), education with a focus on multicultural counseling (MA, San Diego State University), and educational leadership (EdD, CSU East Bay), Dr. Martinez brings a wealth of expertise to his role. His prior experience as an Educational Opportunity Program Director further solidified his commitment to supporting first-generation and underserved students. Dr. Martinez finds deep meaning in helping students navigate higher education, offering tailored guidance that reflects his own journey as a first-generation college graduate.
