"BELIEVE IN YOURSELF" by Sofia Castillo

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Sofia Castillo

High School Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Softball

District: Brownsville ISD

Class: 2022

High School: Lopez Early College HS

Honors/Awards: All Academic team, All Defensive Team, 1st team all District, Senior All Star Team, Recipient of the Jason Garcia Memorial Scholarship Award, Recipient of the Superintendent's Scholarship Award.

College: Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Honors/Awards: Deans List

Currently Attending the University of Texas San Antonio

As a High School Athlete how were you able to juggle both your schoolwork and athletics?

As a student athlete it was just as important to prioritize grades as much as the sport. It’s important to find a good balance between doing both and make smart decisions. -Sofia Castillo

Was there any injuries or setbacks that had a major impact in your athletic career?

I had a back injury during my high school sophomore season. It definitely set me back a lot of games and practices. I also went through a surgery my junior year which also held me back, so a lot of the time I felt I wasn’t where I wanted to be skill wise. Off season training and being resilient helped overcome these setbacks. -Sofia Castillo

Is there something you wish you had done different through your high school years?

I wish I worked on mental strength. I think to play any sport you have to be mentally and physically strong. You have to believe in yourself and be confident. -Sofia Castillo

Being a multi-sport athlete; why did you choose to continue with Basketball as your collegiate sport?

Basketball always stood out to me. It was always fun and it never felt like a chore. I think having such a healthy relationship with the sport, teammates, and coaches made a huge difference. -Sofia Castillo

When searching for the perfect college to play Basketball; what steps did you take to choose and be accepted to your school?

I reached out to different schools regarding my basketball career post high-school and I attended a prospect camp at SAGU and they eventually gave me a call back with good news. -Sofia Castillo

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What can you tell us about High School Basketball vs College Basketball? What can a High School Athlete expect to see differently when they join a collegiate team?

The biggest difference was that in highschool there’s one or two players that will give it 100% and in college every single player is giving it 100%. -Sofia Castillo

Who or what has been your biggest support system?

My family and my coaches have always been my biggest support system. I always had their support and I never felt like I had to prove myself to them. -Sofia Castillo

What advice can you give to a high school athlete planning to play collegiate sports?

I often found myself doubting my potential and I think that itself brought it down. My advice would be to work hard, believe in yourself, and have fun. -Sofia Castillo

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

In the next 5 years, I would like to be in Physical Therapy school. I would love to work with athletes, help them recover, and get them back to their sport. -Sofia Castillo

embrace-doubt.com 8/9/23