My name is Arelis Estrada Castillo, and I was fortunate to be part of the HIPPY Program at the age of three an
d graduated from the program in July of 2009. Through this program, my mother became my first teacher. Within a couple years, HIPPY was able to give my mother the opportunity to become a home visitor herself, a position she holds to this day. Martha Gomez was my home visitor at the time and has played a significant role in my life, as a mentor. She would regularly deliver homework activities, along with books, school supplies, and toys. Thanks to this early education, I learned my shapes, letters, numbers, colors, and the alphabet, and even learned to write my name before starting kindergarten. The program gave me a significant advantage, allowing me to enter elementary school ahead of my classmates. HIPPY also had a profound impact on my social life. I fondly remember participating in family events hosted by the program and volunteering at a young age—whether painting faces, distributing food, or handing out school supplies and toys during the Christmas holidays. It was fulfilling to contribute to my community, a passion that continues to this day. In fifth grade, I was honored to be named captain of the safety patrols, which earned me a trip to Washington, DC, and the daily responsibility of raising the American flag before class. In middle school, I attended L.C. Swain and was accepted into the medical academy, where I earned straight A’s in sixth grade and attended honor roll lunches every semester. The academy experience sparked my interest in the medical field and helped shape my career aspirations. I was also nominated for the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) in middle and highschool, where I gained leadership skills and community service experience, including reading to children at Greenacres Elementary. Additionally, I was a cheerleader throughout middle and high school, eventually earning the role of captain, which further developed my leadership abilities.
In high school, I graduated with a 3.8 GPA and a 5.3 HPA, ranking 27th out of 739 students. The medical academy provided valuable hands-on experience, including clinical work with nurses. At 15, I dual-enrolled at Palm Beach State College, allowing me to graduate with my AA degree just three months after completing high school. I also participated in the AICE program, earning my AICE diploma and a Bright Futures scholarship. At 21, I graduated from FIU University with a Bachelor’s in Health Service Administration (BHS) and a 3.6 GPA, during the same week, I attended my mother’s graduation from the Parent Power class at the Family Resources Center, in collaboration with the Palm Beach HIPPY Program. As an adult, I fully appreciate the lasting impact the HIPPY Program has had on my life. It would be an honor for my future children to also be part of this incredible program, ensuring they, too, have a bright future and have me become their first teacher.