BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Eden Diaz is an inspirational story.
The son of immigrants is now the valedictorian at Warren Central High School and will be the first in his family to go to college.
“My family is from Honduras," he said. "They all had to walk here because there was no other transportation, and it was pretty hard for them. They came from somewhere that was not as good as life in America to build a better life, and they built a better future for me."
"My parents see the American dream reflected in me."
That dream has come true. Despite living in a home where little English is spoken, Diaz has a 4.1 GPA and is president of both the Beta Club and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. He’s also the regional vice president of that organization and has won awards for presentations on entrepreneurship and hospitality & tourism.
He’s in multiple school clubs and helps his fellow students through the Technology Leadership Program, working in Tech Support on the Student Help Desk and serving on the Yearbook staff.
“I'm proud of how far I've come, the grades I've maintained, the amount of community service I've done and how I've helped other students navigate through school — motivating them to be the best that they could," Diaz said. "All of this is what truly makes me happy that I've been able to make an impact in my school for my peers and my community.”
He’s done all this despite battling health challenges as an infant. He was born three months prematurely.
“I was severely underdeveloped and my lungs were too small, so for the first five years of my life, I had to be on a breathing machine because I couldn't breathe by myself," Diaz said. "I also had very weak bones. I couldn't get up a lot of the time because of how weak my body was, so it was just a big struggle.”
He fought through it and is healthy now, but the experience of beating the odds has stuck with him.
“He has a lot of grit and determination that I feel most of his peers do not," said Sheridan Rosser, his English teacher. "I think that contributes significantly to his success. He's very intrinsically motivated; he has his own personal goals, and he wants to do what it takes to get to them.”
Those goals include going to medical school and ultimately becoming a heart surgeon. Diaz has already started on that path, with membership in Future Health Professionals and KY HealthCorps and working as a pharmacy teach at Walmart, where he said one of his most fulfilling roles is helping those who struggle with English.
"Translation in health care is something that we lack, which is what I want to improve on," Diaz said. "I want to be a positive change for people, improving their lives by helping them navigate through health insurance problems.”
Diaz knows not every child of immigrants has succeeded like him, but he said he's determined to be a role model.
"Children of Hispanic immigrants don't think they'll achieve as much, but anything is possible, in my opinion," Diaz said.
He’s living up to those words and a deserving High School Scholar. Spectrum News 1 is proud to award him $1,000 toward his college education.
