Thays was raised in a very poor and dangerous community in Brazil. Her family worked hard to ensure she was safe and could pursue her education. In 2018 she made the decision to come to the United States to create a better life. While living in Rio de Janeiro Thays earned her journalism degree and found meaningful work in the field of culture and history, but she had a deep desire to become a social worker. Thays is now managing a pilot program at English for New Bostonians, to offer ESL classes for new migrants and residents in sixteen shelters across the state.