College gave grad confidence to serve fellow students

April 21, 2026 — DENTON — One could say that Magali Castillo Nicolas came to Texas Woman’s University as a timid, first-generation college student.

After all, she came from Lovelady, an East Texas hamlet of a few hundred souls. TWU’s Denton campus alone is more than 20 times the size of her hometown.

Although she arrived with strong academic credentials – including a Terry Scholarship, among the most coveted by college students – Castillo Nicolas still felt ill-prepared to navigate the many nuances of college life.

“There were so many moments where I didn’t know what questions to ask or where to turn for guidance, and that uncertainty was overwhelming at times,” she recalled. “At one point, I even considered giving up.”

But often in life, it takes a struggle to reach an epiphany, which is precisely what happened to Castillo Nicolas.

Her thought process shifted. Maybe she needed to make stronger efforts to seek support herself? So, she did just that.

“I discovered just how many resources, mentors and communities were available to help students succeed. That experience changed everything,” Castillo Nicolas said. “It not only helped me rebuild my confidence, but it also sparked a passion in me to make sure other students, especially those who felt as lost as I once did, didn’t have to navigate it alone.”

What once was her biggest obstacle was now the fuel that gave her college experience purpose.

Throughout her four years, she super-charged her campus engagement. She became a Pioneer Ambassador, an orientation leader, a Fit-2-Lead Camp Guide, a Pioneer Camp Guide and a G-Force Mentor – all positions aimed at helping elevate the campus experience for students.

Additionally, she has served as president of Catholic Campus Ministry, historian of the Terry Scholar Student Organization, a mentor for the Athenian Honor Society and the Terry Scholar Student Organization, and a Pioneer Service Scholar.

As a nod to her outstanding service, she has received two student-centered Redbud Awards: The Campus Leader with a Heart and Pioneer Spirit awards.

And on May 8, Castillo Nicolas will graduate with a B.S. in psychology with a minor in Spanish. She wants to continue her passion for service through nonprofit work and eventually would like to pursue a master’s degree.

“Coming from environments where I didn’t always feel like I belonged or had the freedom to fully express myself, TWU became a place where I could truly soar,” she said. “It invested not only in my education, but in my whole person.”