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Alvarez-Lagunas is a founding member of the Adelante Club, which organizes toy drives and food drives and provides literacy outreach for migrant youth.

\"PHOTO:
Polk County Public Schools
PHOTO: Brenda Alvarez-Lagunas, 18, makes a valedictorian speech at Mulberry High School in Mulberry, Fla., on May 24, 2019, where she used strawberries to thank her immigrant parents who are farmers.
>

She finished her high school career as school valedictorian with a 4.68 GPA. She will study bioengineering at Stanford University on scholarship.

\"PHOTO:
Polk County Public Schools
PHOTO: Brenda Alvarez-Lagunas, 18, thanks her immigrant parents during her valedictorian speech at at Mulberry High School in Mulberry, Fla., on May 24, 2019.
>

Alvarez-Lagunas said she credits some of her success to her mentor Dani Higgins, who helps migrant students and those living under poor conditions.

\"PHOTO:
Polk County Public Schools
PHOTO: Brenda Alvarez-Lagunas, 18, makes a valedictorian speech at Mulberry High School in Mulberry, Florida, on May 24, 2019.
>

As for her message to young people struggling to persevere, Alvarez-Lagunas said, \"Everything is what you make of it.\"

\"If you come from a poor family, use every resource you possibly can and try to better yourself,\" she told GMA. \"Never let circumstances bring you down.\"

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