RUTA Juozaityte, 19, achieved top grades at South East Essex College in Southend, even though English is her second language.
The Lithuanian student obtained As in history, law, psychology and general studies despite only moving to England two years ago.
She said: "I learned English in school. I needed to use a dictionary more than I'd hoped. But after the first few months it was really good.
"It felt comfortable and natural doing it in English. I got stuck in and I got on with the work."
She now hopes to read European social and political studies at University College of London.
"I'm just excited now. I can't believe it," she Ruta, who now lives in Southend. "I'm going out with my friends, it's probably the last day we'll do that because we're all going to different places."
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