Four Grads, Four Dreams, Four Directions

Tracey Canales — Global Studies

Growing up in Santa Clarita, Tracey Canales always knew she wanted to make a difference in the world. Traveling cemented her career goals, especially when visiting developing countries.

“My twin brother and I were able to visit Guanajuato, Mexico,” she said. “It was my first time out of the country and flying on a plane. I saw things I didn’t like. It was such a journey for the people just to get water every day. I think children shouldn’t be walking in the heat in order to drink out of a river.”

Global Studies felt like the perfect fit for Canales when she and her twin, Angel, enrolled at CSUCI as the first generation in their families to attend college. During her senior year she traveled to the United Nations in New York to participate in the Model U.N. competition.

In August, Canales will join the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic with hopes of becoming a U.N. diplomat.

Ariana Castellanos-Rodriguez — Business

Like most students who are part of the first generation to attend college, Ariana Castellanos-Rodriguez and her three siblings didn’t hear about college while growing up in Oxnard.

“My grandparents immigrated from Mexico and my parents came when they were very young,” she said. “My dad is a landscaper and my mom works at a school.”

But once she learned about college while attending Pacifica High School, Castellanos-Rodriguez excelled.

She won a Martin V. Smith scholarship, which is for first-year, high-achieving students interested in studying Business or Economics at CSUCI, and later founded the University’s first Women in Business club.

Castellanos-Rodriguez and her brothers, Andrew and Alexander, all attended CSUCI this year. Their sister, Amanda, is pursuing a master’s degree at another university.

Andrew was awarded his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same ceremony in which Castellanos-Rodriguez accepted her undergraduate degree in Business.

Castellanos-Rodriguez is now considering several career possibilities.

“One of my biggest dreams is to start my own business — I love baking, so I’m thinking maybe my own bakery,” she said.