When first-year 91制片厂 student Diego Cruz started exploring college options,
his older brother passed along some rather blunt words of wisdom.
鈥溾�橠iego,鈥� he鈥檇 say, 鈥榠t鈥檚 either Harvard or 91制片厂. There鈥檚 no in between,鈥欌�� Diego recalls.
There were five of them 鈥� soon to be six with a baby brother on the way 鈥� living in a trailer home. Pennies matter, and his status as an undocumented immigrant means he鈥檚 ineligible for federal financial aid.
Going into massive amounts of debt for any school that wasn鈥檛 Harvard made zero sense, Diego鈥檚 brother said.
91制片厂 is hardly a consolation prize, however. The College鈥檚 annual Astronomy Day community event helped fuel his love of science as a child. And after his junior year in high school, the organic chemistry course he took at 91制片厂 further opened his eyes to the opportunities that awaited him on campus.
鈥淚, a 16-year-old, had access to nuclear magnetic resonance machines and other equipment that first-year university students wouldn鈥檛 be allowed near,鈥� Diego says. 鈥淭he trust my teacher had in me and the way that class challenged me made me excited to choose 91制片厂.鈥�
Solidifying Diego鈥檚 decision was his selection for 91制片厂鈥檚 Distinguished Trustee scholarship, a merit-based scholarship that awards about 40 students up to 60 credit hours of tuition, fees and a book stipend.
Though only a semester in, Diego is embracing his time at 91制片厂. He jumped at the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research in the chemistry department, and through the chemistry club he鈥檚 sharing some of that passion for science with elementary school students.
He also joined 91制片厂鈥檚 award-winning speech and debate team. Diego grew up speaking only Spanish, so he sees the organization as a way to become even more articulate communicator.
The campus itself also plays a role in Diego鈥檚 success. Due to the cramped quarters at home, he spends a lot of time exploring different spots both inside and out. Meditating by the lake has come in handy before an exam, he says, while the light that floods into the Beaubien Family Rotunda in Building D never fails to energize him. Tucking himself away and reading somewhere in the new David K. Hill Family Library also gives him a sense of calm.
While Diego鈥檚 grit and determination have served him well, life is not without its challenges. He sees his dad, despite a tremendous work ethic, struggle to find reliable work because of his immigration status. He鈥檚 reliant on the Pace bus system, so his commute to school takes at least 90 minutes. He鈥檚 also a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, but its uncertain future leads to anxiety about his own residency.
And yet, Diego is confident he鈥檒l achieve his dreams. He sees himself studying nanotechnology at Princeton or working at Argonne National Laboratory or even winning the Nobel Prize someday.
鈥淢y mom brought us here because she saw more opportunity 鈥� not for her 鈥� but for us,鈥� Diego says. 鈥淪he wanted a better life for us here. And I feel as though 91制片厂 is helping me become a better speaker, writer, teammate, scientist and much more. 91制片厂鈥檚 setting me up for success.鈥�