The class of 2026 graduation ceremony took place on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald
A photo of Aiden provided by Sasha Olvera.
Provided by Sasha Olvera
Aiden Michael Castro’s letterman jacket from Plainview High School being held up by his mother, Sasha Olvera.
Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald
An Ofrenda dedicated to Aiden Michael Castro.
Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald
At Plainview ISD graduation, as students sat prepared to receive their diplomas, one seat remained empty, ornamented with flowers and a card bearing the name of a student who was supposed to walk the stage.
“He had the brightest smile, he’d light up the room,” Sasha Olvera said about her son, Aiden Michael Castro. A high school senior at Plainview ISD, Aiden died by suicide in March 2026, according to his mother, who said she is sharing his story in hopes of encouraging other families to talk openly about mental health and recognize when a young person may be struggling.
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Olvera described Aiden as a caring older brother who loved making people laugh and tried to be there for friends in crisis. She said that he often tried to lift up people around him even while carrying his own pain.
“He merely wanted just to help a lot of people, so they didn’t have to go through what he went through,” she said.
According to Olvera, Aiden had been struggling with his mental health for some time, though the family believed at points that he was improving. She said he had also faced painful setbacks, including disappointment after learning he could not pursue his longtime goal of joining the Army because of his mental health history.
“Like, every dream that he was having, it was just one thing after another, just shooting him down,” she said.
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She also said bullying added to the weight he was carrying. Over time, she noticed changes in his routine and energy, she said, though he did not fully open up about everything he was feeling.
The loss has rippled through the family, Vera said. She said Aiden’s siblings and friends have struggled in the aftermath, and that the house feels different.
“My house is very quiet without him,” she said. “He was my loud one.”
Vera said support from her husband, friends, church and the broader community has helped sustain her family. She said her children are receiving counseling, and that members of the community have reached out with flowers, messages and offers of support.
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She now hopes to work with local groups and her church on mental health awareness efforts in Aiden’s name, including community events where families can talk openly about what young people may be going through.
“My goal was try to make sure his name lives on, help as many people as I can, especially with the mental awareness,” Vera said. “I don’t want anybody to feel the way I feel or go through what we’re going through right now.”
Her message to other parents is simple: pay attention, keep asking questions and remind children they are not alone.
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“Be there for your kids as much as you can,” Vera said. “As parents, we have to let them know, like, we’re always going to be there.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.