Sharing a graduation and earning a graduate degree together is an event that Israel Castro, Perla Castro, and Aaron Herrera never imagined as a family, until they enrolled at Tec de Monterrey.
A father, his daughter, and her husband have completed their Master’s degrees in Urban Design and Architecture, fulfilling their dream of graduating together at the July 3rd ceremony.
“It was really cool because we actually traveled together and even when we had moments that were unrelated to the master’s program, we just kept talking about it, making it really intense,” said Israel Castro.
“But ultimately, throughout those tough moments of putting in extra hours and sacrificing weekends, we still made it fun,” he added.
Perla and Aaron had already studied together in high school and during their undergraduate degrees at the Tec. Now, they have returned to celebrate yet another graduation alongside their family.
Arriving at the Tec
This family’s story at the Tec began in Morelia, Michoacán, where Perla and Aaron studied at PrepaTec together.
They became a couple and decided they wanted to study at Monterrey campus, with her pursuing architecture and him civil engineering.
Perla pointed out that architecture runs in the family, as her father holds a degree in architectural engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute.
“Ever since I was little, my dad would take me to construction sites, and I loved being there learning with him. I’ve been deeply passionate about design and architecture from a young age, and that’s why I decided to study it,” she said.
After graduating and returning to Michoacán, Perla and Aaron reunited and got married four years ago.
Israel Castro also has a son who graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the Monterrey campus.
Combining their professional interests
Already established in their careers (Perla working with her father in the family business and Aaron elsewhere), they developed an interest in pursuing a master’s degree.
“One day, my daughter and I were chatting when she asked me, ‘Dad, why haven’t you ever pursued a master’s degree?’ Although we’d completed numerous diploma courses together, I’d yet to complete a master’s degree.
“I told her that, given my workload, it wasn’t possible, but I would have loved to pursue a master’s in urban design and architecture.
“And she said, ‘I’m also really interested in urban design.’ Perla had taken several courses in Italy, the U.S., and Boston,” recalled Israel Castro, who owns a construction company with over 30 years of experience.
Aaron shared this ambition to pursue a master’s degree together.
“I also saw all that enthusiasm, all that fascination with urban design, and slowly but surely, once I was married, it rubbed off on me. It was passed on to me. Perla would tell me all about city architecture and everything, and there were various engineering topics,” Aaron said.
The challenge of working, traveling, and studying
They began their studies at the Guadalajara campus in 2024, and decided to continue in Monterrey the following year, graduating this past March.
Due to the hybrid model, they had to commute to the city of Monterrey two to three times a month for classes.
“It was quite a challenge, as there were days when we just ran out of time, so we had to stay up late to catch up on classes, homework, and projects. It was an experience that served as a complement to our work,” Aaron explained.
“When she was a child, I used to tell her, ‘Go on, get studying!’ Now, she tells me, ‘Dad, we have to study. The weekend’s canceled.’” - Israel Castro
For Perla and her father, sharing a classroom was a peculiar experience.
“There was never a moment where we were able to disconnect. Whether we were at work, on a business trip, or traveling for our master’s degree, we were always brainstorming about how to solve something, or what to propose.
“But we were also enjoying the process. It was about creating a space that gave us the freedom to openly discuss and work on our projects,” she said.
Israel Castro said that studying alongside his daughter is something few parents are able to do, but it was well worth it.
“It was so funny to remember that when she was a child, I used to tell her, ‘Go on, get studying!’ Now, she tells me, ‘Dad, we have to study. The weekend’s canceled because there’s work to be done.’ I used to scold her, and now she scolds me,” he said.
The impact on their working lives
All three mentioned that what they learned in the master’s program has positively impacted their professional development.
“Everything we do across construction, design, and real estate development, is driven by the desire to improve cities with our projects. We aim to ensure that the opportunities good cities offer are open to everyone, not just a few,” Perla explained.
Israel Castro pointed out that, despite ongoing preparation through diplomas, graduate studies deliver a greater return.
“Alongside our private projects, we also take on public works. This gives us the opportunity to engage with government decision-makers, such as mayors, urban development secretaries, and governors.
“Having this master’s degree equips us to craft proposals and develop projects more precisely and comprehensively. We believe this adventure will be very interesting for city participation,” he said.
At the graduation ceremony held on July 3rd at Borregos Stadium, the three graduates received their graduate degrees and shared a unique moment.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN READING:
