David Casillas
Student Spotlight (2015)
The message David Casillas heard growing up in a gang-infested area of Santa Ana was
that he would not amount to anything. His high school teachers told him that he was
wasting space in their classrooms. He was in and out of trouble a lot, headed in the
wrong direction.
Fortunately, his life changed when Casillas鈥檚 family moved to Westminster and then
to Corona. A friend helped him get a job in the aerospace industry. He settled down,
worked hard, got promoted, and starting earning $65,000 a year. 鈥淧retty good, for
a guy with only a GED,鈥� David said.
Then the unthinkable happened. He suffered a stroke that affected his vision, hearing,
and speech. He lost everything. He had no idea what kind of future lay ahead.
鈥淚 went from being labeled as wasted space to successful to disabled,鈥� he said.
As he slowly recovered, Casillas realized he had to get an education and figure out
a new path because he no longer could work in the aerospace industry.
He enrolled in classes at 萝莉研究所 and investigated the Disabled Students programs
where he found assistance that would change the tide for him once again. 鈥淭here are
so many resources here to help. I tapped into everything the EOPS and SSS programs
had to help me.鈥� He transitioned from being an auditory to a visual learner, and he
was able to access small scholarships that helped pay for books.
鈥淥ne thing I鈥檝e learned throughout this difficult time is I have to keep taking steps
forward,鈥� said the first-generation college graduate. His example has inspired his
daughter, who is graduating from high school, to go to college as well.
Casillas is graduating as a student of distinction with an associate of arts degree
in Fine Art. He plans to transfer to either CSU Long Beach or Chapman University.