Christina Castro ’24 Named Fulbright Finalist to Teach English in Kyrgyzstan

Christina Castro ’24 will teach English to students at Naryn State University in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, within the foreign languages department. She will also receive a stipend to continue studying Russian while working with the U.S. Embassy on cultural diplomacy and exchange surrounding educational systems, values, and pedagogies.

Castro graduated this spring with a degree in English and secondary education. Her Fulbright assignment blends her two passions: teaching and travel. She recently spent a summer in Turkey and Uzbekistan and chose this Fulbright program because it presented the opportunity to return to Central Asia. Castro, who has lived in Montana and loves the outdoors, was drawn to “the Switzerland of Asia” in part because of its natural beauty.

Kyrgyzstan is the next step in Castro’s journey in a lifelong love of teaching. Some of her first experiences with teaching were at her church growing up. She has always thrived in mentor roles, something that the people in her life have been quick to point out. She has also taken pretty much every opportunity to travel internationally, including a mission trip to Ecuador that she credits with teaching her the importance of building relationships across cultures.

“It’s just beautiful to get to, for a time, intersect and learn from a culture and learn from people,” Castro said.

The Fulbright Program is a prestigious program that boasts 62 Nobel Peace Prize awardees and 89 Pulitzer prizes won by program alumni. The application process for the merit-based awards is rigorous, and Castro is grateful to many Wheaton mentors who helped her reach this point. She is specifically thankful for the support of her professors Dr. Alan Seaman and Dr. Jeffry Davis, along with Fulbright Program Advisor Dr. Pam Barger.

As she looks to the future, Castro plans to continue working and learning abroad. After her English teaching program ends, she hopes to explore Fulbright master’s programs in the UK or the Middle East. For now, though, she looks forward to making connections through her community in Kyrgyzstan.

“I’m really excited to put all of myself into it and really invest in the people,” Castro said.

—Grace Kenyon