When Denisse Castro-Rivera enrolled at Furman, it wasn\u2019t part of her original plan. A Greenville native, Castro-Rivera had committed to another school farther from home until a family crisis led her to stay close to home. \u201cIt was a very rash, last-minute decision,\u201d she said. \u201cI just needed to be around my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a first-generation college student and the eldest daughter of a family from Costa Rica, Castro-Rivera admitted to a rough transition her first year or so. She was helping at home while trying to ensure she lived up to the expectations of college.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t really in the best place,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I eventually accepted that I can work hard enough to put myself in the best position, even when things don\u2019t go as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Castro-Rivera eventually found her rhythm through anthropology. She said it helped her to understand where people are coming from and \u201cspeak to everyone in a way that is actually effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her coursework, especially in Spanish with Herman N. Hipp Professor of Spanish Eunice Rojas, inspired her to pursue a publication-worthy project analyzing Latin American protest music \u2013 something she now hopes to continue beyond graduation when she enrolls in graduate school.<\/p>\n
Mentorship and community-building became central to her Furman journey. As a leader in HOLA (Hispanic Outreach and Latinx Awareness), Castro-Rivera supported other students navigating the challenges that arise on a high-achieving campus. She reflected often on how satisfying it was to help other students triumph over setbacks and understand that they were not alone.<\/p>\n
As she graduates, Castro-Rivera is taking a well-earned break. She\u2019ll continue her internship at the Pickens (South Carolina) County Museum and hopes to one day open her own museum \u2013 possibly focused on shared human experiences across cultures and time. \u201cThere\u2019s something fundamental about people that is the same,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we need to focus more on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denisse leaves Furman not just with a degree, but with a deeply shaped worldview \u2013 and a strong sense of self.<\/p>\n
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