Senior Stories: Diego, The “In-Between”
Diego is a 5-time LA Marathon finisher out of North Hollywood High School. He earned the SRLA Scholarship, which will contribute to his studies at UC Davis this fall as a Physics major.
I live in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. I adore my city–it beams with delicious food, vibrant music, and stunning architecture as far as the senses can perceive. In many ways, the South Central I know is the vibrant epicenter of community and inclusivity.
Diego representing his future school on his sweater.
Nevertheless, the negative stigma behind South Central precedes its name: tales of gang violence and routine drive-bys paint an exaggerated picture of what it is like to live in my neighborhood. Though most of these tales are outdated, this city is not entirely faultless. I vividly remember my sister and I walking the long way home after school because the short way was far too dangerous. Meanwhile, LAPD helicopters and police sirens blare through our street so often that they eventually become background noise.
When I was a kid, I hardly noticed the helicopters or police sirens. The only noise I paid any mind to was that of my immense curiosity, and I never felt as if my dreams were unrealistic. At some point, however, I must have subconsciously allowed others' negative perception of my hometown to skew my perception of it, too: How could a kid from South Central ever make it to college? I am older now, and my doubt has since become gratitude: I am a kid from South Central and I am reaching for the stars!
“The ‘in-between’ encompasses every step, every thought, and everything experienced throughout the journey - this part of the race makes for the best stories.”
Students Run Los Angeles has taught me the importance of perseverance, even through the toughest of moments. Despite the obstacles I face in my neighborhood, I’ve learned that through determination, anything is achievable. I think back to the marathons I have completed, they are never easy and I always reach a point where I want, more than anything, to give up, but I never do. I know that I am stronger than the voice in my head telling me to quit, I have pushed myself to finish those last few miles and the only thing that sticks with me is the immense sense of pride when I cross the finish line.
Similarly, I have decided that instead of dwelling on the assumption that kids like me are confined to our plight, I am choosing to believe that we are indeed the change we wish to see. As a first-generation Hispanic student and a five-time marathoner, I am equally terrified as I am eager to step away from home for the first time in order to return equipped with the tools and knowledge to inspire and empower future generations to break through every single barrier, despite the odds.
The race start line is nothing short of euphoric: the anticipation of the journey ahead feels nearly palpable as feet shuffle in place, ready to run. Then there's the finish line—a literal conclusion of blood, sweat, and tears. Although I love this part of the race as much as every runner does, I must admit that my favorite part is the in-between.
The "in-between" encompasses every step, every thought, and everything experienced throughout the journey—this part of the race makes for the best stories. I have experienced many in-betweens throughout my running career, but one particularly stands out to me: My first marathon.
It was Mile 21. I kept telling myself to take one more step—just one foot after the other. My body begged me to stop, but I knew that was not an option. Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted when a coach approached me and encouraged me to persevere through the final stretch. Together, we ran those last miles slowly, but crossed the finish line proudly. I will never forget the coach's act of kindness during those challenging moments, and it was then that I realized how vital it is that I am that person for others.
Fast forward to one year later, during my second marathon: I felt confident and strong as I made my way through Mile 22. Then, suddenly, I noticed a student off to the side, trying desperately to run despite her evident pain. I jogged over to her and asked if I could run with her. She looked up, nodded, and off we went—four miles to go. We made our way through those final few miles, and it was not long before the smell of the salty Santa Monica ocean breeze made a glorious appearance: the finish line was near.
Diego proudly demonstrating his diploma at his high school graduation.
Most people consider running a solo sport, but I am afraid I have to disagree. After all, I would not be a marathon finisher without the support of the coach who felt called to lend a helping hand, my parents, who are there every race, my fellow teammates who encourage me every step of the way, or the volunteers who motivate us throughout the course SRLA has taught me the importance of helping everyone and anyone, to always lend a helping hand to those who need it. Out on the road, we are one big team with one shared goal, and I strive to support and motivate my teammates when they need it most. There is nothing quite like it–competing against no one, but instead running alongside the strongest and bravest people I know.
Diego when asked “What was it like finishing a marathon?”
I feel like each marathon is super different, but I feel like at the end of the day, kind of just showed me that as long as I put my mind to it, I can really accomplish anything. So I kind of took it as one of the like models that I lived through with these past four years and even through middle school and I did S.R.L.A. It was like, if I can run 26.2 miles, I can do anything. So I feel like it just really taught me the power of resilience and just like the power of your mind and just like what you tell yourself, if you like set your mind to do something, you can accomplish something. And I mean, know there's like so many times when I like wanted to give up during the marathon, but I didn't. I'm thankful they finished them. So I kind of just took that resilience, that determination throughout like everything I did. So like, if a class was hard or I was just kind of a hard time, like anywhere else outside of running, I just remember like I ran the marathon. Like this is just another little where I was to go through. So yeah, that's what I meant.
“There is nothing quite like it - competing against no one, but instead running alongside the strongest and bravest people I know. ”