Classmate Story

Focus Sentence: Sabrina has faced many challenges because of her move from Africa to America, but she has overcome these challenges to become the great person she is today.

Sabrina Epou is not your normal Eastview High School student. She has had many experiences that most of us may never face, but still fits in great with the Eastview community. Sabrina is involved with the school theater and played a sorority girl in the play, "Good News." She enjoys playing soccer in the summer and taking contemporary dance classes. She sounds like your typical active high school student, but what makes her so unique is what happened in her past.

Sabrina was born and raised in Africa. She lived in Lome, Togo with her family and her father worked with the government. When she was 7, her family had to leave Africa because the government was becoming corrupt. This meant she had to leave her Aunt, Grandma, and close friends behind. Leaving the ones she loved behind was tough, but now she had to focus on learning English to survive in America.

When Sabrina moved to Minnesota, she was placed in the 3rd grade. Along with public school, she also had to attend a school to learn English. While talking about this challenge with Sabrina, she stated "learning English took seven years to master." Now Sabrina is very fluent in the language and has no problem understanding others. Although, learning English wasn't the only challenge she had to overcome. Her Grandma's death was another tough time in her life, especially since she rarely got to see her after the move to America.

Sabrina may have had a difficult past, but that doesn't stop her from her ambitions. She says she "hopes to go to college in New York to study performing arts or journalism." I hope to see her make it big in New York as well; she works hard for everything and deserves it.