Hide Transcript Show Transcript

REPORTER: CHOCTAW HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DIAHN CITTY ALREADY KNOWS SHE WANTS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE. THAT DEEP CARE AND APPRECIATION FOR LIFE ONLY COMES WHEN YOU KNOW HOW PRECIOUS LIFE REALLY IS. >> I WAS ADOPTED IN 2005 BY HER BECAUSE A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THAT, MY MOTHER HAD DIED IN A FIRE, IN AN APARTMENT FIRE. AND MY DAD, HE WAS NEVER A PART OF MY LIFE, HE WAS JUST NEVER IN THE PICTURE. REPORTER: DIAHN WAS ADOPTED BY HER GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS 4-YEARS-OLD. THROUGH THE YEARS DIAHN HAS FACED SMALL CHALLENGES AND REALLY BIG ONES. FROM SELF DOUBT AND WORRY TO THE OVERWHEMING HEARTACHE OF MISSING HER MOM, SOMEONE SHE ONLY KNOWS THROUGH PICTURES AND STORIES. >> LIKE IF I WANT A SHOULDER TO CRY ON, OR LIKE TALK ABOUT BOYS OR MY FRIENDS OR JUST LIKE ANYTHING OR LIKE SCHOOL BECAUSE LIKE, I ALWAYS LIKE SUPPORT MYSELF BECAUSE MY GRANDMA SH DOESN’T KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE, LIKE TO BE IN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. AND SO IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ME. IN COLLEGE, SHE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO GO, BECAUSE WE ARE LIKE SO FAR APART. JUST WISH I HAD A MOM TO BE THERE WITH ME THROUGH IT ALL. >> IS DIAHN CITTY HERE? >> OH MY GOD. >> MAGGIE CARLO WITH KOCO, YOU ARE A FREE RIDE FINALIST. REPORTER: WE LOVED SURPRISNG DIAHN WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS AT SCHOOL FOR A MEETING. >> OH MY GOODNESS. I CAN’T EVEN SAY ANYTHING, I’M JUST SO HAPPY. REPORTER: YOU SHOULD KNOW DIAHN IS A 4.0 STUDENT, A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND KEY CLUB, AS WELL AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CHOCTAW STUDENT COUNCIL. HER COUNSELOR DESCRIBES DIAHN AS AMAZINGLY SWEET, SMART AND TALENTED. DIAHN HAS FOUGHT THROUGH SO MUCH BUT SOMEHOW SHE’S THE ONE ALWAYS GIVING BACK. READY TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE. >> I’M JUST SO PROUD OF HER. I’M PROUD OF THE THINGS SHE HAS OVERCOME AND THE FACT THAT SHE CONTINUES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE, AND HELPING OTHERS MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. IT’S KIND OF LIKE MY THERAPY A LITTLE BIT. LIKE HELPING OTHERS JUST MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD. REPORTER: CONGRATULATIONS DIAHN. WE ARE SO IMPRESSED WITH YOU. >> I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU GIRL. REPORT

Advertisement Free Ride: Choctaw student always looks to help others despite personal hardships Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Diahn Citty has dreams of being doctor and has a deep care and appreciation for life that only comes when you know how precious it really is.The Choctaw High School senior was adopted by her grandmother in 2005 when she was 4 years old."I was adopted in 2005 by her because, a couple of years before that, my mother had died in a fire, in an apartment fire," Citty said. "My dad, he was never part of my life. He was just never in the picture."Through the years, has faced obstacles, self-doubt, worrying and the overwhelming heartache of missing her mom, someone she only knows through pictures and stories. "If I want a shoulder to cry on or talk about boys or my friends or just anything or school because, I always support myself because my grandma, she doesn't know what it's like to be in high school right now," Citty said. "It's always been on me. And college, she doesn't know anything about this because she didn't have to go because we are so far apart. I just wish I had a mom to be there with me through it all."Citty has a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club and serves as vice president of the Choctaw High School Student Council. Her school counselor describes Citty as amazingly sweet, smart and talented.Citty has fought through so much, but, somehow, she's the one always giving back and ready to help someone else."I love to help people, and helping others makes me feel good," she said. "It's kind of like my therapy a little bit. Helping others just makes me feel really good."The 2019 Free Ride Scholarship winner will be announced Wednesday night. The winner will be awarded a scholarship of up to $25,000 and a free Eskridge Auto car.All of the finalists will get at least $5,000 for their college education.