I was borned and raised in Albania. I was lucky to have two wonderful parents. My mother is an engineer and my father a proffessor in university. He taught hydraulics. My mother is a very strong woman and absolutely amazing. She was involved in theater and loves fashion and ballet. She is a great painter and also seamstress.

On the other side of her artistic side is that strong character and will. In 1993 she started her own business, which was a small version of office depot. My mother inspires me because she never gives up. She always pushes herself to the limit.

My father on the other side is a teddy bear and very loving. He was the Dean of University of Albania for almost 30 years. He is very respected by his peers and wrote many books.

On or about year 1997 or so we faced the Civil War in Albania. Many of my friends got killed. Girls were getting raped and sent to Italy for prostitute. As a result my mother used all her savings to get me out of the country.

I left the country on September of 1997. I had never been without my parents. It was scary but I was happy as I looked at the United States as a new beginning.

I arrived in Austin, Texas and I was staying with different families from Westover Church of Christ.

High school was a struggle because of the language. Pflugerville High School did not accept my credits from the schools in Albania, which meant I needed 2-3 years at least to complete high school. However, I needed to graduate and go to college so I could continue to stay in the United States.

Many families from Westover Church of Christ helped me out but it was still difficult. I did not have money for lunch. I started to babysat and wait tables.

My mother’s voice every month on the phone would push me to fight and not give up. I decided to fight and graduate from high school in one year. I did that. Texas Education paid for my examinations and I took exams on weekly basis to get the credits I needed. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but definitely it made me stronger and prepared me for the future. I would not have been able to do so well in college and later law school but for that experience.

In the summer of 1998,I had completed around d 16 credits and needed 5 more credits to graduate. I was not allowed to walk for the big graduation date because the principal did not believe I was going to complete all my credits. However, I proved him wrong.

I graduated and went to college that year. I got my diploma on the mail while I was at Lubbock Christian University.

I loved college but I was struggling financially. I was lucky to meet a wonderful Christian woman called Carolyn Wilson. She opened her heart and home to me. She went to the extreme to provide funds for me so I would continue college.

Carolyn allowed me to stay at her house when the dormitory at college would close. I went to all her family vacations and she treated me like her own daughter. Her love and ability to care for others taught me so much and inspired me to help others.

Because of her love, her giving, her belief in me I was able to graduate from college, summa cum laude and number one of my class. Carolyn did not stop there. She gathered funds to allow me to go to law school.