Merced Native Returns Home, Finds Calling as Campus Advocate

By Luciana Chavez Special to Merced College Daisy Castillo didn’t start her life, her college education or her career looking to work with abused women or sexual assault survivors. But Castillo still came by her compassion and skill as the campus advocate for the new Merced College Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) program in a sincere way. She started as the first person in her family to go to college. And then she had to start over several times more before arriving at the college in February to start this essential work. “I think that experience also helps me stay calm during crises,” said Castillo, 28. “It gives me hope for my clients when they have to start from scratch.” As the RSVP campus advocate, Castillo is the point person for survivors and program partners alike. She runs required prevention workshops for students and staff and is always available to answer questions. She also helps survivors get the right resources to live through or leave an abusive situation, to help them navigate the process to secure restraining orders against their alleged abusers, or to simply drive and accompany survivors to court appearances as a support. “When people hear the words sexual assault or domestic violence, it’s intimidating,” Castillo said. “My mission here is to make people feel safe enough to have open conversations.” The Merced native originally came to the college to study to become a dietician. Castillo dove into her nutrition classes and quickly realized that she hated math. She left for Grand Canyon University in Arizona to try again, this time without a degree, a car or a job. She built a support network based around her community service. When she wasn’t studying, Castillo was working with children in weekend programs, camps, and international mission trips. “My identity was in Merced, but leaving here opened my mind to so much,” she said. “It was validating to know I could make it out in the world.” After graduating with a B.S. in Exercise Science and an emphasis in Health Education, Castillo moved to Maryland with no family or connections to work as a chiropractic assistant. She enjoyed that time on the East Coast, but returned to Merced in 2022 to get married. “I was excited when I got to come home and try to give back to my own community,” she said. “It was great seeing how much Merced has grown, too.” Castillo took a job as a receptionist at the Valley Crisis Center upon her return and quickly learned about the unique issues surrounding sexual violence and domestic violence. She answered crisis calls and spent days on call to respond to police and hospitals if needed. She got her first promotion fairly quickly, when she was assigned to serve as a health advocate at Le Grand High School. “So many people don’t know what the Valley Crisis Center does,” she said. “I was working with teens and young adults at Le Grand High School. We focused on educating them on what sexual, domestic and intimate partner violence are to help them avoid those situations.” Castillo then took on more responsibility by accepting another promotion, this time to serve as the college’s campus advocate. She remembers how empowered she felt watching one of her clients receive a restraining order. “When they come in, you hear their story and they’re just trying to get out of a bad situation,” she said. “They’re leaving their abuser. It may take them six, seven attempts before they’re truly ready to leave. So when the restraining order gets approved, we’ve helped them start a new life.” Castillo must steel herself every day for what she might face. She didn’t have experience in anything close to crisis intervention before being hired at the VCC. “The more invested I became in VCC’s mission and values, the more I learned,” Castillo said. “That part was easy. I just love that we’re providing this free service to the community and helping people at a time when they might feel alone and scared and not know what to do.” Doing that job in a familiar place is its own reward. “Being at the college is amazing,” she said. “I get a chance to reflect on who I was back when I was trying so hard to figure my life out. I’m still young, and I don’t know what the future holds. Yet, I do feel very content here now.” Anyone on campus who has experienced sexual assault, abuse or trauma in their lives should consider contacting the Merced College RSVP Program for help at 209-756-6446 or campus.advocate@mccd.edu.