Lilliana Diaz came to SRJC looking to build a foundation—something she could grow from. While she didn’t have a set plan, she was ready to find her direction, step into her identity, and create lasting connections.

She found early support through the Puente Program, where mentorship and encouragement helped her feel seen. A Club Day encounter with the Native American Center deepened her experience. She said, “I never had a Native American Center at my high school. I wanted to get back into my culture,” she said. 

Lilliana is a member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and that connection to heritage became a driving force in her time at SRJC. She joined the InterTribal Student Union and eventually served as club president for more than a year, organizing events and bringing Native youth to campus. “Me stepping out of my comfort zone, sharing my story—it’s all about being someone Native students can ask for help and getting more out of their experience,” she said. 

Her leadership extended beyond SRJC through her involvement in the statewide I Can Go to College campaign. As part of that initiative, Lilliana’s image was featured on a banner displayed in SRJC’s Intercultural Center. “It’s satisfying to be able to implement what I’ve learned, and to be a part of something bigger,” she said.

Now preparing to transfer to CSU San Marcos, Lilliana is continuing her commitment to Native student advocacy. Connections she made through the campaign helped open the door to a potential role at the university’s Native American Sovereignty Center. “Everything that I have carried here, I would like to carry out in San Marcos,” she said.

When asked what drives her forward, Lilliana’s answer is clear: “Without passion, you don’t have this drive. If I don’t have that passion or that drive, then what am I doing here? But with that, I have this passion to continue school and build something big for my future. And I don’t think that’s going to stop.”