Sasha-Lee Dawes Lee Dawes traveled a long way from St. Ann, Jamaica to West Babylon in 2001. The ambitious young lady from humble beginnings had great hopes for her new life in America. Her dreams were big, and they led her straight to becoming valedictorian of Farmingdale State University, class of 2006.

Life was not easy for Dawes in her native Jamaica. Her family was poor and she lived in the countryside with her mother and brother. Her father was forced to leave them to go to the city and find work. Her mother never learned how to read or write, and her brother was never a strong student. It was expected that she would follow the same suit as her brother.

Dawes shocked her family when they realized how smart she was at a very young age. Even her mother Sadie Williams could not explain where the good grades came from. "I still remember her first day of elementary school," she says. "She came home so happy because she learned how to read and write. I thought to myself, I am her mother and I can't even do that."

Her good grades continued all throughout primary school and into high school. Dawes went to one of the best high schools in Jamaica, the Knox Dawes started Farmingdale State University one year after her arrival in West Babylon. She received her associates degree in 2004, and she decided to pursue her bachelor's degree in management technology. She has had a very successful college career as she served as president of Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society, secretary of Alpha Beta Gamma, a business honor society, and secretary of the Business Club. She also was the recipient of the Louis J. Riso Memorial Scholarship, a member of the school's President's List, and a participant in the 2004 International Mission on Business.

All of Dawes's hard work in college paid off for her as she was named the top student in her class of over 600 people. On Sunday, May 21st, the 22 year-old went up to the podium and eloquently read her valedictory speech. She says that the speech was not hard for her to write because it was based on her own life's experiences. "The speech was basically about Jamaicans and where we are today. It reflected on how far we've come to make it through the struggles we have seen." Dawes has certainly come a long way from the

Jamaican countryside, but she says the best is yet to come. Currently she interns at Republic Airport, and she would like to make a career as an airport manager. She also hopes to have her own daycare business in the Babylon area.

West Babylon has become home to Dawes and her family these past six years. She says that she loves it here even though it gets difficult to make ends meet sometimes. "I know it's so expensive," she says. "That's what the speaker at my graduation, Elliot Spitzer, was talking about. He was almost begging the young people to stay here because a lot of them move to escape the high cost-of-living. I love it here, though. It's so quiet just like where Im from in Jamaica."

Whatever happens in Dawes's life, wherever she chooses to go, whatever she chooses to do, her mother already knows she will be a success. "I thank God all the time for Sasha," she says. "I say, "God, if you can't bless me with a house or a new car I understand because you have blessed me with such a wonderful daughter."