Name: Giselle Castillejos

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Nickname(s): G-Cast, G-Unit, G, & Dezel - shoutout to Starbucks for that one! #VinDEZEL2fast2furious

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Personal Pronouns: She/Her

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Hometown: Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Proud to be reppin' The Royal City!)

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Favourite thing about ConEd?: Everything - all of the above!! No matter who you are - your interests, chosen majors, speciality, etc., your second family awaits in Con-Ed and is always welcoming to grow its community. From the best dance routines and memories that will be embedded in your minds (and Con-Ed Hearts) for the years to come, to the fun-filled events, endless opportunities to showcase your amazing self, the inside jokes, and laughs, Con-Ed and its Con-Eddies will forever hold such a special place in my heart. It is such a positive community with limitless school spirit, and the most amazing vibes! I am grateful to be surrounded by uplifting, empowering, inclusive, and beyond kind-hearted people who share a similar vision: Wanting to leave a positive impact & legacy on those around us. Everyone pushes you to grow in every way and supports you throughout the ups and downs, which is so important as life-long learners and aspiring educators! Con-Ed at Queen's has been a second home to myself and undoubtedly many others, and we are SOOOO thrilled and grateful to have you to join our family! Con-Ed makes me smile from ear-to-ear in all that we do and who we stand for.

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Favourite first-year class?: Prof & Drama! (You'll LOVE Holly! We encourage you to share 'What's New' to your future friends in Prof <3)

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Favourite thing about Teach Exec?: It's seriously impossible to name just one thing! Team MMMAgNifiCeNt (Your Teach Exec Dream Team) are so genuine, kind-hearted, supportive, encouraging and hilarious! The energy is immaculate, the vibes are, in the words of Simon Cowell, "A Yes from Me", and the on-going heated debates about random, but much needed, topics always brighten up my day. #washyourlegs #DILLpopcorn?! On a serious note, Teach Exec has fostered such an incredible, welcoming and positive community that I am so grateful to be apart of with the hopes of making your transition to Queen's a smooth, positive, and memorable experience. Need a shoulder to lean on or a fun-tastic Buzzfeed quiz to complete? Teach Exec's got your back 24/7, as do I and the rest of your MMMAgNifiCeNt Teaches! :)

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Personal Spotlight: CONGRATS ON BEING AN OFFICIAL CON-EDDIE! WOO HOO! With the biggest hugs and SOOO much Con-Ed Love, we proudly welcome you to the Con-Ed Fam! WHAT'S UP CLASS OF 2026! My name is Giselle Castillejos, my pronouns are she/her, and I am a proud #CON-EDDIE with teachables in Drama/English in the Intermediate/Senior stream! I seriously cannot WAIT to meet you all as your future Teach and forever best friend!!! <3 But for real, I'm always going to be here for you and cannot wait to get to know you all better throughout this exciting, new adventure of yours! But first, allow me to introduce myself! I am a proud Theatre kid, multi-disciplinary artist, and pasta (with parmesan cheese, please) enthusiast. I love getting involved in anything and everything to do with leadership with the hopes of making the world a kinder, more vibrant place. I love collaborating with others and showcasing teamwork; hoping to exude proud team spirit and to improve in all that I do! I love fall nature walks, long-car rides with earbuds listening to music ("looking out the window, pretending that I'm the protagonist in an coming-of-age film who has a conflicting decision to make" type beat), and have an unhealthy obsession with Disney Original Channel movie/show soundtracks. I'm 5'0 and my biggest flex is seeing 'The Next Step' cast on tour. My music taste is highly diverse, with top genres in hype throwbacks - early 2000's, 80's, 2010's, and Disney/Showtunes. I am proudly Filipino and my fav shows right now are Grey's Anatomy, The Queen's Gambit, and How to Get Away With Murder. I love to play the ukulele and to shoot some hoops in my free time! #LeBronJaames. Quoting old vines/Tik-Tok sounds are a daily occurance, Sour Patch Kids are the G.O.A.T, and I cry at every movie - no matter the genre. I pretend that I can hip-hop dance and Hufflepuff/Gryffindor/Ravenclaw are the Harry Potter Houses that I feel a strong connection with. If you ever need a buddy to laugh, cry, go on a walk, or go out to brunch with, etc., I have your back and always will! Please feel free to add me on Instagram (@gcastillejos87) to talk about anything and everything or if you just want to say hi, I'd be SOOO happy to chat with you! I cannot wait to be friends and to see you all in-person very soon! :)

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Words of wisdom: YOU DID IT, AND WE COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD. While it may seem overwhelming, you will find your way and figure out your groove. University will be one of the most enriching transitions of your life, with various ups and downs, and can be incredibly frightening at the beginning and sometimes, throughout. No matter what, acknowledge that you are never alone in feeling this way and incredible friends and memories are in store for you as an Official Con-Eddie at Queen's University. One quotation that continues to shape who I am, "Think about what could go right". You are capable of more than you think. Don't doubt your worth and one-of-a-kind self, believe in yourself, celebrate your progress in every way, and seize every opportunity to build who you want to be. You were chosen to be here and you matter. Give yourself some grace when things get tough, take it one step at a time, and be YOU. The right people and memories will find their way to you. Never forget your identity, what you're passionate about, and I highly encourage you to get involved to maintain positive well-being or if you have no idea what you're passionate about! That's more than OKAY - Queen's and Con-Ed will present incredible opportunities to build your identity, to meet like-minded people, and to explore this exciting, new adventure of yours.Teach Exec, your Teaches, myself, and your ENTIRE Con-Ed Family will forever be your second home away from home and no matter what, we always want to be there for you. You will shine, my friend; please do not hesitate to reach out about anything or everything. :) We are SOO excited to see you change the world in and beyond the classroom in your own spectacular way. You can do this, and we are BEYOND ready to cheer you on in all that you do and to support you no matter what. All the Con-Ed Love in the World to the fabulous you! You got this. :)