AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — From leading the Caprock High School band to earning dual degrees at Harvard University, Connor Castañeda’s journey highlights the power of perseverance and staying connected to one’s roots.
Now in his sophomore year, Castañeda is working toward both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at Harvard. But despite the distance, he said the values and strength he gained growing up in Amarillo continue to guide him.
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“I think one of the great things about Caprock is that they understand how to make the most for every student that’s there, and they gave me the tools I needed to make sure that I was able to succeed no matter where I went,” Castañeda said. “I think that the people and the care that they put into their work and to each student that they had is something that you don’t get in most other schools in the area.”
At Caprock, Castañeda was a member of the marching band and balanced school with a part-time job. Castañeda said that discipline carried into his college career and gave him the confidence once he arrived in Cambridge.
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He explained that his experience at Caprock prepared him for the challenges of Harvard. He adds he still remembers the moment he found out he had been accepted. While on break, working at Target, he opened his email and saw the message that he was heading to Harvard…