Suzette Farnum is in her final year at Leeward Community College in Waianae, Hawaii, studying to become a special education teacher. “Levi, my oldest son, has autism," she says, "and that has spurred me on to help other children and families in the same situation.” Suzette’s younger son, Taylor, is 4, and her husband Randall works with the Navy; his position has allowed her to both take care of their children and concentrate on her schoolwork full time.

Costs are tight, but after learning and navigating the challenges of special needs and meeting other families in the same situation, Suzette knows that advocating for special needs children and their parents is the work she is meant to do. After graduating Leeward, Suzette will continue on with her Elementary education/Special education degree. Suzette is involved with running recess activities at her Levi’s school on Fridays, and being a leader at Awanas, her church’s youth club. Whenever she has a free moment, she loves to scuba dive. “It is a huge stress reliever to be under the water with all the ocean’s inhabitants. It is VERY quiet there."