Leelawan did not speak English when she emigrated from Thailand in 2001. When her father returned to Thailand, Leelawan and her sister stayed with their step mom, who forced the girls to work full-time at her restaurant. Working long hours, Leelawan barely had time to complete her homework before going to bed in the early hours of the morning. With help from an attorney, Leelawan and her sister now live with a caring foster family. Leelawan is eager to complete high school and be the first in her family to attend college. She will be attending Mount Holyoke College.

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