Diego, a Boy Scout, and rising 12th grade student from Puerto Rico, has always taken the Scout motto of “Be Prepared” to heart. The importance of preparation has become even clearer to Diego through a series of events he has experienced: 2017’s Hurricane Maria, an earthquake in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic. During these events, Diego immediately acted to help his family improve their emergency plan, which inspired Diego to be ready for future disasters and to help others with preparedness. Recent disasters have also demonstrated the preparedness gaps that exist in his community, particularly among the elderly. Diego is interested in improving access to food, water, and health supplies in Puerto Rico—especially in rural areas. As part of the national YPC, Diego would like to learn more about how to help vulnerable communities, like the elderly, in Puerto Rico.
Diego volunteers at a senior center and enjoys listening to the participants’ stories and helping them with chores. He also volunteers to tutor fellow students in math and helps with beach cleanups. In addition, Diego helps with a university research project on a biodiversity in coffee plantations across Puerto Rico that identifies species and their interactions.
In his free time, Diego likes to draw, play the piano, and play chess. He attributes his family camping trips under the stars to sparking an interest in astrophysics.