Yurisbet Diaz Diego
Yurisbet Diaz Diego is a graduate of Edgecombe Early College High School and plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall. She received the Junior Guild of Rocky Mount Scholarship and the McBryde Scholarship through NCCF.
A first-generation college student and the oldest daughter of immigrant parents, Diaz Diego will major in political science on the pre-law track. She hopes to one day become an attorney, helping people navigate the legal system.
“My passion has always been for helping those around me, and I want my years as an educated professional to serve as good towards the community,” Diaz Diego said. “My values stem from witnessing the tireless hours my parents put in under harsh working conditions. I have seen my family make it past the hardest moments of our lives and achieve the goals that they have put their minds to.”
While in high school, Diaz Diego worked two jobs while maintaining a high grade point average and active involvement in her school, family and community. Her interest in the law and civic affairs led her to serve on student council, in the Governor’s Page Program, on Teen Court and in leadership roles in several clubs including Senior Beta Club, National Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa and Hispanic Heritage Club. Diaz Diego also led a civic voice project and provided voter education in the Latinx community through Casa Azul de Wilson.
“My biggest takeaway was realizing that people come from different circumstances, and it is important to keep our hearts and minds open,” she said of her varied experiences throughout high school. “I want to continue my path as a guiding and helping hand for my family, community, and peers.”