In her first years of high school, Amanda spent a lot of time with her mom, who was fighting cancer, but she always wanted to stay focused on getting an education. She was able to get involved in college-bound programs NJ LEEP and Cooperman College Scholars as her mom healed, and is now a proud first-generation college student at The College of New Jersey. She hopes her experience as a Brazilian immigrant and college student will inspire future students to work toward higher education too.