the first school sienkiewicz-mercer attended was in massachusetts. this school was meant for people with disabilities. there, a doctor diagnosed her as mentally disabled. her parents then decided to send her to another school. this school was more expensive. sienkiewicz-mercer had to leave the school because there was not enough money to continue her education. she then had to attend another school for the mentally disabled. at this school, sienkiewicz-mercer was treated terribly for sixteen years.