Elisa Castillo

Background

About Elisa Castillo

I have always had a passion for reading other people’s thoughts. From opinions and ideas to critiques and creative writing, I find it fascinating to dive into their mind through writing. As I entered college, my interest in my peers’ writing increased, and I knew that I wanted to work somewhere that allowed me to connect with fellow students and discuss their writing. I joined the Daily Nexus, UC Santa Barbara’s primary student-run newspaper, and found that it was the perfect place to collaborate with peers who had a similar love for writing. As a copy editor for the Nexus, I have had the opportunity to work on articles across all sections and genres, and I provide edits in the process of developing our printed newspaper that is published weekly. Alongside my experience with the Nexus, I am graduating with a double major in English and dance and a minor in Professional Editing. My majors and minor have offered me an array of both creative and critical opportunities: in English, I wrote a senior thesis in the form of literary criticism; for my capstone project in dance, I choreographed and staged a solo performance. But I have found that in all my academic explorations at UCSB, one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had is the Professional Writing Minor. Working in the editing track has provided me with an expanded toolset in editing numerous genres of writing, and I feel competent addressing grammar, punctuation, and stylistic issues. The work I’ve done in the minor has reminded me of my lifelong passion for reading others’ ideas and collaborating with writers to create the best product possible. Upon finishing my time at UCSB, I hope to apply my enthusiasm for writing and collaboration to a career in editing. I plan to apply for graduate school to obtain my master’s degree before pursuing a career in publishing and editing. I believe that my thorough copy editing training in a variety of mediums, coupled with my simple yet immense passion for reading, will make me a strong and conscientious editor.