Six years ago, Serena Nunn was in the midst of serving a 15-year prison term for drug conspiracy. Next month, she will graduate from one of the top law schools in the country.

Set to receive her diploma on May 6 from University of Michigan Law School, Nunn plans to take up public interest work once she gets her license to practice. The former honor student and homecoming queen, whose life took a wrong turn in 1989 at age 19, will sit for the Michigan Bar in July. After that, she wants to help people.