Mother of seven overcame illiteracy on path to graduation Raised by her Spanish-speaking grandmother in Manhattan, she was the oldest grandchild and responsible for taking care of her siblings and doing housework. She went to school when she could and learned to speak English, but never learned to read or write. At age 10 she moved to Rhode Island with her family, but three years later she moved out on her own to escape mistreatment and abuse of her grandmother's husband. By the age of 14, she had her first child, Bryon. Torres leaned to write her name and address but struggled to find work,...