WESTBROOK – Prior to her family’s arrival in Albany, N.Y., in 2010, Sarah Al Mukhtar had temporarily moved to five different countries in the span of a few years. Her family had left Iraq in search of work and medical care, and eventually returned to their country to find that violence had only escalated.

Now, with Al Mukhtar’s family finding a home and community in Westbrook, she has overcome multiple interruptions to her education and will graduate this Saturday with the rest of the 151 students in Westbrook High School’s class of 2014.

On Monday, sitting in an English language learner (ELL) classroom at the high school, Al Mukhtar, 17, spoke about her difficult assimilation into America, and her successful transition in Westbrook.

Although her family only stayed in Albany eight months, Al Mukhtar said, she was constantly nervous, overwhelmed by a big school, and discouraged by limited support for ELL students such as herself.

“It was difficult because they didn’t focus as much on ELL students, because it was a big school,” she said. “It was like, ‘If you want to study, go ahead,’ but if you don’t, they just leave you.”

She added that Albany had a diverse population of students, but suffered from students forming their own cliques instead of forming friendships outside their nationalities.

But Al Mukhtar said Westbrook isn’t like that. Known as “push-in” support, Westbrook ELL teachers sometimes accompany students to regular classes.

Speaking about her experience in Albany, she said, “When you go to biology class or something, you go by yourself, and there was no one to help me.”

Before coming to America, her family moved from Baghdad, Iraq, to cities in Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Sweden and Bulgaria.

“In Egypt they focus a lot on English, so I learned a lot there,” she said. “But in Iraq they start English from sixth grade, so it was hard for me.”

Regina Clement, a Westbrook ELL teacher, said Tuesday that Al Mukhtar’s “work ethic” is what has led her to success in high school, through the challenges that she has faced.

When Al Mukhtar returned with her family to Iraq before making the move to America, the family saw more violence and death than in previous years.

“Sarah is from a war-torn country where she witnessed and encountered things that many could never even imagine,” Clement said. “She has lived in seven different countries and as a result has suffered from interrupted learning. Throughout all of these obstacles, Sarah has been able to persevere and reach success at Westbrook High School due to her continued positivity, strong morals and hard work ethic.”

According to Clement, Al Mukhtar is considered “mainstreamed,” meaning she doesn’t require any extra help from Westbrook ELL teachers.

“When I first came I didn’t know that much of the language,” she said. “But, now I’m all set. I can go to a class by myself and ask questions, and get help.”

Al Mukhtar is one of 11 ELL students graduating this weekend. There are a total of 109 ELL students at Westbrook High School.

The Al Mukhtar family moved to Westbrook after Sarah’s father, Khuder, visited a friend here. Clement said Monday that often an ELL student such as Al Mukhtar becomes an asset for immigrant families based on their education and knowledge of English.

“There’s some pressure on Sarah as the oldest to go to college, and she’ll be expected to kind of help with the family and support,” she said.

“I want to be an example for my brothers and sisters,” Al Mukhtar added. “So in the future they can see how I went to school and graduated and have a good job, so they can be like me.”

Of her siblings, she is the oldest by far, with two brothers and two sisters ranging in ages from 2 to 8. Al Mukhtar lost a sister while in Jordan, who died at 9 months.

Recently, she has been working at My Place Teen Center during evenings when the organization offers adult English classes. While adults in the community have the opportunity to learn further English, Al Mukhtar watches their children at the center. Her parents also participate in the classes.

Leading up to receiving her diploma this weekend, Al Mukhtar said she’s “scared and excited” for the school year to be over. The majority of seniors have already finished classes.

In the fall, she plans to attend Southern Maine Community College, but has not yet decided on a major, even though she plans to study something in the medical field.

“I’m going to miss it,” she said Monday, talking about Westbrook High. “If you want the truth, I’m going to miss school.”

Sarah Al Mukhtar stands in front of Westbrook High School Monday, just a few days before she will graduate with the class of 2014. Almukhtar overcame multiple moves and educational interruptions on her way to graduation.