Fall — 2005

Diana Guillen

Journalism/English/Scholars Program

“I’m really excited about graduating, but I kind of don’t want to leave. I really love this school.”

Her first year at SMC was a tough one. “When I first got here, I felt really alone, and I just would go home as much as possible. I didn’t know if I would ever belong,” says Diana Guillen. But then one of those turnaround experiences happened to her. “Joining up with the Corsair and getting into Work Study in the Associated Students’ offices were really good things for me,” she says. “I’ve met so many people that I love, and I think that getting involved with clubs or organizations here is the best thing you can do.”

Diana’s accomplishments—including a 4.0 GPA last semester—have been accelerated by her joining up with SMC’s Scholars Program. “My high school teacher told me that joining this program was the first thing I should do at SMC. And I have to tell you that my classes—and the 18 units I’m taking – are challenging.” Diana says, “It’s important for me and my family that I’m doing this well because I’m the first of us to go to college.” She makes the long trek from Pico Union almost daily, but reports confidently that it’s well worth it. “I’ve made a lot of progress within myself and feel I have a much better personality and outlook on life now,” she says. “I really love coming to school.” But the day will come when Diana has to leave SMC. And when she does, it’ll be to conquer new worlds in journalism.

“I don’t want to be one of the people you see on TV, because I think they give journalism a bad name. But I’ll be writing,” she says. “I get excited about it, and right now I’m feeling very happy because I’m studying Shakespeare, which I love. It’s my goal to improve my writing skills so that—later in life—I can communicate what I think is crucial: important ideas for people to use in their lives.”

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