Stephanie Diaz

Not sure what she wanted to do when she graduated from Little Village High School, Stephanie Diaz decided that City Colleges would be an affordable option that would help her figure that out. Thanks to the Star Scholarship, she didn’t have to worry about paying for tuition or books while she earned her associate degree.

Now at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she’s studying criminal justice with the goal of going to law school to become an immigration lawyer.

While at Malcolm X College, she used many of the resources there to help her on her way. “At first I was afraid or embarrassed to use the Tutoring Center, but I realized there is nothing wrong with asking for help.”

She also worked closely with the Transfer Center when it came to applying to four-year universities. Her advice to other students is, “Don’t be afraid to use the school resources and try your best – it might not be easy, but don’t give up!”

Following her own advice, Stephanie is set to graduate in May 2018 and has been chosen as the Malcolm X College valedictorian.