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• 1,326 Graduates • 51% Latinx • 108 Honors Transfer Students • 374 Transfers to 4-Year Universities including UCSC, Cal Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, UCLA & others • 86% Admit Rate into UCLA's Transfer Alliance Program SANTA CRUZ — Yazmin Diaz has never lost sight of her goal. She was halfway through her sophomore year at Santa Cruz High School when COVID-19 struck its first blow in 2020 and shuttered classrooms across the county and the globe. As students and teach- ers alike scrambled to find ways to learn and engage remotely, Diaz kept laser focused on her long-sought-after mission: to be the first person in her family to attend college. "It was really hard not being able to see any of my friends and just staying isolated inside all day. It was really hard," she said in a re- cent interview with the Sentinel. "I didn't have any other option. I had to pass, I had to gradu- ate, and I just had to go to college." Diaz, 18, took a huge step toward that goal on Friday as she walked the graduation stage at the high school, clutch- ing a diploma in her hand, showered with applause from friends and family in atten- dance. And for just a moment, as she moved off stage, her sight may have glimpsed the far-off eastern horizon where New York City and Pace University await her. She will be attending college there in the fall. Despite the obvious challenges remote schooling posed for students and teachers across the country, Diaz adapted and leaned into her penchant for self-reliance to maintain her studies. "I had more time to myself," Diaz said. "I could some- what learn at my own pace...that aspect of it I enjoyed." Diaz's autonomous nature has given her the confidence to excel at whatever she puts her mind to, no matter the odds. She plans to study computer science at Pace, knowing full well that the industry has a workforce that un- derrepresents women and people of Hispanic descent, people like her. A 2021 study by the Pew Research Center found that Hispanic adults make up for just 8% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) industries. Women make up for a quarter or fewer of workers in computing and engineering, the study found. Computer science first appeared on Diaz's radar when a calculus teacher encouraged her to take a coding class after recognizing her affinity for mathematics and puzzle solving. She signed up for her first course seven months ago and felt an immedi- ate resonance with the work. "That's just when I knew for sure that it's something I want to do moving forward," she said. But that isn't enough for Diaz, who has always let her motivation start from within and ex- pand outwards into to community that raised her. "Once I graduate (college), I want to come back to my community here and help teach coding and become a mentor to people in the community who believe computer science is out of their reach." Diaz dreams of starting a coding academy in San- ta Cruz that helps bring equity and opportunity to the computer science industry. And while the future is bursting with possibil- ity, it hasn't prevented Diaz from taking action in the present. While at Santa Cruz High she co-founded an Ad- vancement Via Individu- al Determination (AVID) club that mentored and prepared students of all ages for college eligibil- ity and success. She and a friend also started a podcast during the pan- demic called "Coffee Talks 831," where, they shared personal stories and life experiences that they thought might resonate and inspire other local teens. "It was just something we did during the pan- demic," Diaz said. "It was just a little escape for us." The podcast is currently on hold and unavailable to stream, as preparing for col- lege in the fall is her main focus at this point. However, under intense questioning from the Sentinel, she refused to rule out a future return to the airwaves. The Community Foun- dation clearly wants to hear more from Diaz as well, as they recently announced that she is this year's recipient of the R.H. Beel Memorial Scholarship. The award is presented to a grad- uating senior at Santa Cruz HIgh that shows academic achievement and a history of service activities or volunteer work. Diaz received $1,000 to support her continued education, with potential for re- newal up to three years in a row. Still, as meaningful the recognition and as satis- fying the achievements, Diaz will always look to her family for inspira- tion and motivation to achieve her goals. Both of her parents work physically demanding jobs with no remote op- tions, even in the thick of the pandemic. Her mother also gave birth to a baby boy shortly before the lockdown went into effect in 2020, causing Yaz and her old- er brother, Josh, to as- sume much of the care- giving responsibilities for their infant brother while their parents were away working. It was during this time that Diaz began knitting in her spare time as a way to decompress after a long day. The habit slowly gained momentum and before she knew it, she found herself knitting together entire sweaters for her younger brother, Mateo. "I've made so many for my baby brother," she said. "It was my escape for the longest time during the college application process. It was a really stressful time for me, so at night, for about 30 minutes before I went to bed, I'd just try to knit a couple rows." Now, as Diaz readies herself for the jour- ney ahead, she seeks to stitch together something else for her younger brother: a path to a future where anything is possible. "I want to provide him with information that I didn't have growing up, so I can make his life 10 times easier than mine." Santa Cruz High grad pursues collegiate dream in New York City By PK Hattis, Santa Cruz Sentinel Yazmin Diaz smiles for a photo in front of the steps at Santa Cruz High School. She is the first in her family to attend college and will study computer science at Pace University in the fall. (Contributed – Rufina Diaz) YAZMIN DIAZ

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