From Struggles to Success
Marisol Lopez Castillo, a dedicated and resilient Nativity Prep Academy (NPA) alumna, has made significant strides since her days as a middle schooler. After leaving Nativity Prep Academy, she continued her education at King Chavez Community High School, graduating in 2018, and then pursued higher education at San Diego State University (SDSU), earning her degree in Liberal Studies in 2022.
Marisol’s journey has been deeply influenced by her parents, who emigrated from Xochipala and El Paso Real in Mexico. They worked tirelessly to provide a better future for their children Miguel, Marisol, and Daniel, NPA ’16. Marisol’s mother, Sandra Lopez juggled cleaning houses and being present for her children as much as possible. Her father, Francisco Lopez, regularly worked two jobs as well as rented out rooms in their family home for additional income to provide for his children. Marisol credits her parents for instilling in her determination and a strong work ethic. Marisol’s parents’ sacrifices fueled her drive to overcome life’s obstacles and succeed.
Marisol’s early education was marked by struggles, including a traumatic and short separation from her parents. This difficult chapter in Marisol’s life impacted her education as she fell behind in school and was required to repeat the first grade. However, while attending Promise Charter School, the support of her first-grade teacher, Ms. Toscano, ignited her passion for learning. Ms. Toscano’s encouragement and patience had a significant impact on Marisol’s life, inspiring her to pursue a future career as a teacher.
A turning point in Marisol’s life came when her mother heard about Nativity Prep Academy through a friend. Initially, Marisol felt out of place when she shadowed a sixth grade student but quickly fell in love with the school and its mission. As a sixth grader, Marisol thrived in the nurturing environment. Highlights of her time at NPA include the camping trips and the Girls on the Run program. Girls on the Run designs programming that strengthens girls’ social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences. The camping trips gave Marisol the opportunity to see other places outside of San Diego. She learned about leadership roles, teamwork, and other valuable life skills she continues to use to this day.
As an eighth grader, Marisol faced another setback when she was denied a scholarship to attend a local private high school. Marisol ultimately enrolled in King Chavez Community High School. Surrounded by unmotivated peers, Marisol struggled to see a viable path to college. However, Marisol persevered in high school where she took honors classes and engaged in extracurricular activities. Marisol shared, “it’s not the school that gets you to college, it’s the student.” Through determination and from the support of her family, Marisol graduated with a 4.2 GPA and received numerous academic awards.
Marisol’s hard work paid off when she was accepted into several universities, including SDSU, UC Santa Barbara, CSU Fullerton, and USD. In addition to her tenacity and determination, she credits this achievement to frequent meetings with her high school counselor as well as Nativity Prep’s Graduate Support Program (GSP), specifically Mrs. Josie Alvarez and Mrs. Xochitl Alvarez. Marisol appreciates the relationships she has developed with them both, especially Mrs. Josie Alvarez who has guided and supported her since sixth grade and continues to be her mentor to this day. Mrs. Alvarez would go out of her way and support Marisol in any way possible. Because of this, Marisol says she will forever be grateful to have Mrs. Alvarez in her life.
Marisol ultimately chose San Diego State University due to a generous financial aid package. College presented new challenges, including failing a math class her freshman year. She was frustrated and disappointed in herself as this was the first time she received a letter grade lower than a B. She took initiative and learned from her mistakes. She visited the university’s tutoring center and took additional classes at Southwestern Community College, and was soon back on track to graduate. Once again, Marisol put in the work and saw results, continuing to show her commitment to and passion for education. In 2022, Marisol earned a degree in Liberal Studies with a bilingual credential from SDSU earning a place on the Dean’s List twice.
Now 24, Marisol is a teacher at Los Altos Elementary and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Language Arts at SDSU. She is currently a member of the NPA Alumni Advisory Council. Through her professional career and volunteering, Marisol remains committed to giving back to the community that played a pivotal role in her success. As a Los Altos Elementary teacher, she serves students with similar backgrounds and upbringings to her own. She sees herself in her students and wants to be their ally, cheerleader, and support system, just like Ms. Toscano, Mrs. Josie Alvarez and Mrs. Xochitl Avalrez were for her.
Marisol Lopez Castillo’s journey to college was challenging, but she exemplifies resilience and dedication, continually inspired by her parents’ sacrifices and driven to uplift others through education.
