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Outstanding Hispanic Graduates:Lilia Diaz

When it comes to school, Lilia Diaz, 17, is all business.

An enterprising senior at Centennial High School with about a 4.5 GPA, Diaz was heavily involved in the Virtual Enterprise program.

"Essentially, it’s a classroom that’s run in the same manner as a business, except all of the transactions are virtual,” said Diaz, whose team took second place in the national competition in New York.

Diaz also took part in her school’s “We the People” program. Put on by the Center for Civic Education, students are part of a team that competes at local and state competitions in mock congressional hearings.

“It’s a very intense program. We had to do at least 10 hours of study time on our own, countless practice hearings, and meet with our unit at least once a week,” said Diaz, who became an expert in how the protections of the Bill of Rights have been developed and expanded.

Diaz plans to attend U.C. Davis and major in international relations and minor in anthropology.

Diaz shared a bit more about herself with MÁS readers:

Q: How do you plan to duplicate your success in high school at the university level?

A: Simply through continuing to dedicate myself to my work, and the fact that I know it will all pay off in the future. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

Q: Who has been an inspiration for you academically and why?

A: My family for the most part. They came from a small town in Mexico where they had practically nothing, and now they have made a life for themselves and for us. Also, my U.S. history teacher, Mr. Richmond. I think he has been one of the only teachers I’ve had who actually made me feel as if I was capable of doing something.

Q: What has been your most memorable high school moment and why?

A: Definitely nothing that happened freshman year! I don’t have one that tops any other. There have been countless times with my friends, surprise birthday parties, We the People, Virtual Business. I personally liked my high school experience. I know a lot of people regret their’s, but I don’t. My whole experience has been quite memorable.

Q: What do you see yourself doing five years from now? 10 years from now?

A: In five years, I’ll hopefully be in graduate school, and after that I really have no idea. Hopefully I’ll be on my way toward a career of some sort. A steady job would be really nice!

Q: What is something interesting that people don’t know about you?

A: I’m really into art. I love to draw, sketch, and paint. I applied to Davis as an art major, but that’s going to change. As much as I love art, I don’t want to struggle for the rest of my life. But I know I won’t give it up.

Q: What do people compliment you on?

A: I really don’t like talking about myself, so I asked people what they would compliment me on, and lot of them said my hair and my eyes.

Q: Fill in the blank: When people meet me for the first time, they’re surprised by ...

A: Once again, I asked people because I hate writing about myself, and the response (surprisingly) is how funny I am. I don’t know, I never saw myself as a funny person and I still don’t. I don’t know what’s wrong with people! 

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A: I would like to thank people for tolerating me all this time. I’d like to thank my family (obviously), Marissa Memmott for being my best friend, the entire Memmott family (thank you for always having me over!), David Richmond, Ryan Coleman, Tamara Combs, Viet Nguyen and Kshama Vaghela. Also Kayti Logan and Robby Tinkle for being hilarious.

Age: 17
School: Centennial High School
College/Major: U.C. Davis; major in international relations and minor in anthropology