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At Reality Changers, we believe in the power of transformation through education—and few students exemplify that more than Diego, a rising high school senior. His story is one of persistence, ingenuity, and an unwavering commitment to giving back.
Growing Up with Full House and a Full Vision
Diego grew up in a home shared with 12 family members. His upbringing was filled with love—and hard work. His immediate and extended family members all ran multiple small businesses in the yacht services industry, from electrical work and motors to varnishing. Diego watched the adults in his life pour themselves into their trades. “The work,” he explains, “is very physically demanding.”
He wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps and go into business for himself. But he also hoped that he could learn the skills to help them grow their businesses – bringing on new employees and lessening the work load for his family members.
Building Real-World Skills as a Teen Entrepreneur
Diego didn’t wait until college to get started. In high school, he co-founded an LLC with friends and a mentor, where he learned how to navigate business operations, from forming a legal entity to managing resale through Amazon and flipping classic cars for profit. He even took a shot at revitalizing a social club for car enthusiasts—an endeavor that, while ultimately unsuccessful, taught him valuable lessons in logistics, leadership, and risk.
Those early efforts opened even more doors. Diego landed a data analyst role with a portfolio company based in Utah and, through Reality Changers, he earned a competitive marketing internship at Tinuity. Meanwhile, he began supporting his parents’ business, bringing new clients and communication strategies to the table.
Turning Knowledge into Impact
With all these accomplishments already under his belt, some people ask Diego why he’s still planning to go to college. His answer is clear: “The little I know about business is nothing compared to how much I will learn in college.”
He plans to major in International Business with a minor in Finance, with the goal of expanding his family’s business and starting his own ventures. Diego recognizes that while real-world experience has taken him far, college will teach him the financial, legal, and operational foundations he needs to grow with confidence. He also sees higher education as a way to build connections, expand his worldview, and gain the credibility to help others do the same.
A Heart for Service
Diego’s vision for success has always included others. Most recently, he co-founded a charitable initiative called Filled to Fill—based on the idea that when your cup is full, it’s your responsibility to fill someone else’s. Every six months, the group prepares and distributes home-cooked meals to underserved communities in Tijuana.
Reality Changers
Diego has been enrolled in Reality Changers since the 8th grade. He believes that the program has had a big influence on his life. The tutoring has helped him in school, especially during sophomore year, when he increased his GPA from a 2.8 to a 3.8.
He also feels that he gained a lot of confidence, especially in public speaking and networking. That confidence has opened a lot of doors for him, including the opportunity to speak to the California Supreme Court.
Through mentorship, opportunity, and a supportive community, Reality Changers helped Diego believe in college as a real and powerful pathway. “Reality Changers gets you through high school. They get you into college. Many people don’t even know how much college could actually change the trajectory of their life and their family’s lives.”
So, Diego has started sharing information with his community. His closest friend isn’t enrolled in Reality Changers, but Diego has been helping him apply to college. “Everything that I learned from Reality Changers,” he says, “I’ve been teaching it straight to my friend.”
Looking Ahead
Diego is not just preparing to earn a degree—he’s preparing to shift the future. His plans include growing his family’s business, building new ventures, mentoring future students, and possibly converting his charity into a nonprofit.Diego’s story reminds us why access to higher education and leadership development matters. Because when one student rises, so does an entire community.