Student Profile: Diego Vila Peña

Born and raised in Cuba, Diego Vila Peña was excited and scared to move to the United States. Diego’s mother was a doctor in Cuba for 30 years, and she decided that they should both move to the US in 2016 in search of a different life.

“I wasn’t really thinking about going back to school yet,” Diego said. “I was an immigrant and didn’t know the language yet.”

Diego only knew how to say his own name in English when he started at a high school in Houston. He was 18 years old in a 9th grade classroom, so he needed to catch up and graduate. After only 6 months, he learned English and was on track to graduate.

“I was completely lost when I started,” Diego said.

Diego’s teachers pushed him to think about college, but it was a faraway dream. His biology teacher had a Texas State banner in the classroom and encouraged he apply. Since Texas State was a Hispanic-serving institution, it felt comfortable to him.

In 2019, Diego started at Texas State with a nursing major. “I thought I liked it and realized I didn’t,” Diego said. He ended up switching his major to Psychology and is now a senior with only a semester left.

During his time at Texas State, Diego has been the Student Coordinator for the Honors College, a member of the Psychology Honor Society, Psi Chi, Stelos Scholars and HSA. He plans to go to grad school at Texas State after he graduates!