Left at an orphanage in Korea at six months of age, beautiful, healthy little Mariko was adopted a year later by a loving couple who brought her home to Northeast Ohio. Throughout her school years, she excelled at everything. She studied in France during high school and became fluent in four languages. In 2007, she graduated with honors from American University in Washington, DC, with a degree in International Studies and an eye on law school. Mariko’s future was bright.