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Boston Valedictorian Was Living In Guinea Four Years Ago

BOSTON (CBS) -- There are 38 high school seniors who will be graduating at the top of their class in Boston. And on Tuesday all of those valedictorians were honored for their hard work and achievement.

One student being honored started her journey to the top a mere four years ago when she moved to Boston from Guinea to live with a guardian and get an education.

Fatiumata Bah says she grew up in a place where she didn't see people accomplish much, especially women. In her native west African nation, women as young as 13 are often given away to men.

WBZ-TV's Peg Rusconi reports.

"I loved school and was always very focused on the very limited education I was given, but I was always reminded I was wasting my time."

She said coming to America allowed to her to follow her dreams. She said at first she struggled with English, but she worked hard.

"Coming to a new country, adjusting to a new language, having to excel in the classroom, going from regular classes to AP classes," said Justine Grace, Bah's guidance counselor, making the point that Bah did it all.

"She's so intelligent. She's come from another country making sure she really has an opportunity to do well," said Dr Sito Narcisse of English High School.

She says she wants to become a professor of mathematics and be known as Dr. Fatoumata Bah. She also wants to go back to Guinea and build schools where girls and boys can learn together.

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