Occupation: Student

Country of Birth: Thailand    Current: St. Paul, MN

“I remember meeting family members who were like strangers to me because I’d never met them before.”

Anta Thosaengsiri left her home in pursuit of a better life. She has made many sacrifices in order to chase her dreams.

Born to Hmong refugees, Anta spent most of her early childhood moving around from city to city, living in several refugee camps in both Thailand and Laos. She attended school but had to repeat grade levels whenever she moved to a new city. Because of this instability, Anta and her family applied to be resettled in the United States.

The resettlement process took several years, and by the time her family was approved, Anta’s two older sisters were too old; they adjusted to American life during the first few months. However, she started to feel comfortable as her English improved, and she made new friends.

Currently, Anta is a student at LEAP High School. In addition to her schoolwork, she likes making crafts, cooking Thai food, going to Girl Scout meetings, and volunteering in her local church youth group. Her favorite subject is her CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) class, and she plans on becoming a nurse in the future. Anto hopes to return to Thailand and help provide healthcare to the refugees still living there.