It’s that time of the year, family! As schools begin to re-open in the US and abroad, we would love your help in launching Daraja Clubs 2010…

Through Daraja’s short time operating, we’ve learned that passionate students abroad are the best advocates for the passionate students at Daraja. Student advocates around the world helped fund many of our start-up costs. Without them, Daraja simply wouldn’t be here today.

If you are an interested student, teacher, parent or active community member, let’s get your school connected to the Daraja cause. And if you have a friend that is a teacher, student, parent or active community member, then please pass on this message and let’s get them involved! The more people we have spreading the word about the school, the stronger this organization gets. And the stronger Daraja gets, the more girls we can educate.

Our hope is to get youth ranging from elementary school to college levels involved. Students from all ages and all walks of life can make a tremendous impact on Daraja through their work.  Not only does it educate kids about another way of living in the world, it shows students at a young age that they have the power to truly make a difference.

If you’ve got that fire in you to do something, then get started! Ways to help…

Start a Daraja Club: Daraja clubs have shined as students from around the world have learned about the struggle for girls education and worked actively to fundraise for this academy. Clubs have raised money by throwing a benefit, selling products or partnering with local businesses. This year, get a Daraja club started at a school (or schools)!

“Dimes for Daraja”: Spare change can make a huge difference and this is a fantastic way for our younger advocates to get involved. After learning about the Daraja girls, kids can begin a coin drive where they get their parents, neighbors and friends involved.

Throw an event: Get together with peers to organize an event to raise awareness or to fundraise for a certain Daraja need. Past events include presenting personal Daraja volunteer experiences or fundraising for a certain need (student’s school fees for a year, water tanks, laptops, teacher’s salary…)

The possibilities are truly endless and we encourage students to think of creative ways to help. If you’ve thought of an exciting way to help, GO FOR IT! And let us know so that we can post it on the blog and encourage others to follow your lead. If you would like more information including a “How to Start a Daraja Club” brochure, fundraising material, or to submit questions/ideas, please e-mail paria@daraja-academy.org.

“The Earth & Me”

Over their break, the Daraja students were invited for an optional two-day seminar called “The Earth & Me” held on August 21st-23rd. The goal of the seminar was to help facilitate conversation and thought concerning the very important and at times tenuous relationship that people share with the land around them.

We held our breath, as this was the first optional seminar Daraja Academy has hosted over break. We weren’t sure if anyone would show up!

The result: half the school arrived and the enthusiasm and dedication of the girls was awe-inspiring. Their questions and answers showed that they were absorbing the lessons and that they were thinking about what they were learning.

The “Earth & Me” schedule included learning the importance of compost, debating new environmental policies proposed in the freshly approved constitution, listening to presentations by researchers from the nearby Mpala Research Center, planting over twenty trees in the nearby community, just to name a few.

The girls arrived as students but they left as conservationists. The relationship between people and the environment became clearer, as did the personal and communal responsibilities humans have to protect the environment. It was a very, very powerful weekend.

To see a full timeline of events with pictures and stories, check out our “Earth & Me” photo gallery…

To get a glimpse of the dialogue that occurred throughout the weekend, read below…

The New Constitution and the Environment: 10% Tree Cover

The purpose of this portion of the program was to investigate the relationship in the new Kenyan constitution between the country, people and environment. Article 69.1 (b) of the new constitution asserts that as a country Kenya will work toward at least 10% tree cover in five years.

Article 69.1 (b)

“…work to achieve and maintain a tree cover of at least ten per cent of the land area in Kenya…”

Students were asked whether this was feasible, and if so, what each student would do “as a parliament leader, community leader and individual” to ensure the success of this ambitious proposal. Below are some of the answers that the girls presented. In true Daraja girl fashion, the students had lots of opinions and ideas…

As a Parliament leader…

-       Introduce alternate sources of energy like BioGas

-       Plant trees in government-owned, public places.

-       National Carbon Footprint: Government should monitor the trees cut due to agriculture and industries in Kenya, they should         then buy land and pay people to plant trees on that land to make up for the trees cut.

-       Design regulations and penalties on cutting down trees such as:

• If you cut one tree, you must plant at least two trees and take care of those trees.
• If you own land, you must have trees planted on 10% of the land.
• If someone continually cuts trees, then their penalty will be to plant and take care of many trees. That way, the person that once cut trees will eventually build a relationship with the environment through planting and eventually understand the importance of trees.

-       Government should reclaim land and start planting:

• The students cited the Mau Forest: The Mau Forest is 675,000 acres and it the largest water catchment in the area. Numerous rivers receive their water from this area. Seeing the destruction and potential water crisis that would arise if the forest continued to be depleted, the Kenyan government launched a multimillion dollar plan to focus on the rehabilitation of the forest.
• Reclaiming the land and rehabilitating the forest also meant that many Kenyans would be evicted from their homes. While the students encourage further reclaiming of land for environmental purposes, they explained that the government should provide a loan for those being evicted so the residents could buy new land.

-       Provide seedlings to the people

-       Inform & educate communities, explain the importance of trees

As a community leader…

-       Educate people of the community

-       Talk to the chief to call a meeting and hold seminars

-       Talk about the future of the children and how tree planting will benefit them.

-       Create a tree nursery with community land and then sell those trees to other communities

-       Plant trees that create food for the community

-       Create local laws and community accountability

As an individual…

-       Plant a tree once per month or at least once per year

-       Plant a tree on special occasions (ie birthday)

-       Lead an educational seminar

-       Plant trees in public areas

Overall, it was a powerful weekend seminar and it was magical to see the girls truly embrace the curriculum, voice their thoughtful ideas and learn practices that would be beneficial to their own communities. Check out the “Earth & Me” gallery for a full recap of the various activities!

The piece written below by Nancy documents her emotions during her very first visit last year. It was the visit that, lucky for us, solidified her bond with Daraja.

Voices of Daraja

My First Visit

By Nancy Adelle Hanssen

A flicker of lights dotted the darkness as the plane began its descent.  Nodding in and out of weariness after thirty hours of travel, a sense of serene slithered into my consciousness.  I pressed my forehead against the small, cool window and squinted trying to capture a glimpse of the countryside.  Too dark at three o’clock in the morning but in my mind I saw the rolling hills of the valleys and the umbrella tops of the acacia trees.  In my heart I heard the voices of the young women of the Daraja Academy whispering their dreams.

I am Monicah

I am from Nanyuki

I am from a land of peace and harmony

I am from dreams of adventure and listening to happily ending stories

I am she who likes music

I am from Daraja

I am Monicah

Landing jolted me back to now.  Would the Kanatco cab office still be open at this hour?  Surely, someone from the Macushla House in Karen where I was staying would notify the drivers.  The plane rolled to a stop.  Gathering my belongings, I felt myself filling with trepidation and anticipation.

As I nervously climbed into the back seat of the cab, the driver chatted with others in Swahili.  Soon the car rolled out past the Nairobi airport and I sat enveloped in darkness and quiet.  A small crack of hello in English opened a conversation about the beauty of Kenya and why I had come.

I am Benedictor

I am from Nairobi

I am from a peaceful, glad and loving family

I am from wanting to fulfill my dreams

I am from Daraja

I am Benny

The car sped but slowed over bumps in the road.  With smiles and laughter, the driver and I shared our fondness for early morning drives with no traffic.    I watched as the slums of the city made way to looming lawns and towering walls.  I thought about the power of humor to make a friend.  A wrong turn and a stop to ask a young herder walking his cow along the road, we made a u-turn. Guards in green uniforms emerged in front of the beam from headlights and pushed open the gates.  Welcomed with a smile from Helen, a cup of tea and clean bed, I fell quickly to sleep hearing words that would soon be written.

I am Everlyne

I am from a place that never stumbles

I am from the land above

I am from a village of ten clans

I am from a quiet, kind and peaceful community

I am from a dream and a wish to be

I am from Daraja

I am Everlyne

I awoke to the sound of monkeys dancing on the rooftops and the aroma of strong pressed coffee.  I also awoke with a sense of purpose.  My trip to Kenya was a gift to myself.  I dreamed of Africa at an early age and shared self-said safari stories with my father.  Now I am here. I never met and never heard Jenni and Jason Doherty speak about Daraja during their visit to the University of San Diego.  But I did hear the voices of the girls.

I am Carolyne

I am from a beautiful country Kenya

Where you can hear birds singing their sweet, melodious song

I am from poetry

I am from dreams of adventures without ending

I am from Daraja

I am Carolyne

Meeting Jenni made my heart sing.  Eternally positive, exhaustingly driven.  In her presence I felt like a tree clinging to the side of Mount Kilimanjaro.  The drive through Nairobi was nail-biting and exciting. Dear Andy, a wonderful young man you meet and immediately love, read the maps and guided the SUV dubbed Black Beautiful like a satellite.  He selected the music as we dodged and bobbed over the streets and around the matatus.  Outside of the city, the road to Nanyuki stretched long, and dusty, made comfortable by the immediate warmth and curious conversation inside.  I watched in wonder the colorful Maasai stroll along the road with their herds and watch back with wonder at me.  I closed my eyes and wished my father was here for me to tell him but I know that he could hear these same words.

I am Marylene

I am from a forest of flowers in Nyeri

I am from where rain is our daily bread

I am from hard work and a will to succeed in life

I am from love and laughter

I am from a heart that hopes for the best

I am from the beautiful world that I have made

I am from grace and I am unique

I am from Daraja

I am Marylene

A large painted white rock marks the turn in the road to Daraja.  As Black Beauty made her way to the school and the sky turned orange, I heard the faint sound of soft singing waft through the air. The gate swung open wide as did my heart that afternoon to welcome twenty six amazing young women whose voices will remain.

I am Florence

I am from Makueni

I am first born

I am from a wonderful and hard working family

I am from honesty, faith and hope

I am from fulfilling my goals

I am from music and dance

I am from loving you

Will you love me?

I am from Daraja

I am Florence

]]> http://daraja-academy.org/blog/2010/08/10/reflections-of-daraja-advocate-nancy-hanssen/feed/ 0 http://daraja-academy.org/blog/2010/08/05/girls-of-daraja-wins-the-jury-prize-at-the-lights-camera-help-film-festival/ http://daraja-academy.org/blog/2010/08/05/girls-of-daraja-wins-the-jury-prize-at-the-lights-camera-help-film-festival/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:35:19 +0000 Jason http://daraja-academy.org/blog/?p=815

Out of The Blue Films, Inc. debuted the “Girls of Daraja” short documentary at the Lights. Camera. Help. Nonprofit Film Festival on July 29th in Austin, TX. The result?  The film was awarded the Jury Prize and, along with raising awareness, the award grants proceeds from the event to Daraja Academy.

The event is an annual film festival focused on nonprofit and cause-driven films. The short documentary was filmed in February when director/producer Barbara Rick, cinematographer Jim Anderson, and executive producer Deborah Santana came to visit the campus.

The short version of the film has been posted on the blog before, but this extended 14 minute film includes additional animation, music and footage. You can watch the award-winning film here!

We can’t thank Out of The Blue Films, Inc. enough for making all this possible.

Name: Kate Vander Ploeg

Age: 24

Occupation: Teacher

Educational Background:

BA in Psychology, Stanford University ’08

Credential & Masters in Education, Stanford University ‘09

Duration of Stay at Daraja: July 13^th- August 6th

How did you hear about Daraja Academy?

My dad is a friend of board member Bob Bessin. I met with Bob to talk about Daraja and he invited me to the Fund-a-Need Benefit at the end of March. I learned more about the school at the event and, by May, I was speaking to Suzanne Montgomery, the volunteer director, and we figured out a plan on what I could do while I was at Daraja. I booked my ticket for July that month.  Everything happened really fast.

What has been your role since you arrived?

I’ve been working with the teachers on how to support students with learning differences and special needs at Daraja. That includes daily lunchtime workshops where I talk about different learning modalities and types of learning ie spatial ordering versus sequential ordering, expressive language versus receptive language. As a teacher, it is a lot easier to help a student succeed once you find out the breaking point.

I have also been working with four students that the teachers have selected for me. I work with them on tutoring and I create learning profiles and management plans on the selected students for the teachers to use.

Did you arrive with any materials for your volunteer role?

Each teacher got a binder that I compiled before I came here. (See picture at the bottom of the blog post). It is a collection of resources and tools that I’ve gathered over the years.

The lunch workshops have been a place for me to go more in depth with the material I brought. My hope is to plant the seeds for the teachers during the workshops so that they are able to use these materials after I’m gone.

Has the volunteer experience been what you expected?

Yes and no. I expected Daraja to be very different from what I was used to back home and it is. I expected it to be very rewarding and it has been. But I also didn’t expect to have it to be so fulfilling and mutually beneficial working with the teachers. I’ve learned so much from them. Since this isn’t a role I normally play in the States, it’s been a nice change of pace.

What is it like working with the Daraja staff?

I think in the States, you might find some teachers who would grumble about giving up their lunch or may only see the downsides and complications with these learning strategies. The teachers here, however, are so dedicated and so motivated. They are just so excited about learning anything that could help them support their students. And when I offer suggestions, they are always eager to use them.

Have you had a chance to interact with the students?

Yes- Apart from working with the specific students assigned to me by the teachers, I help others with studying during study hall. I play sports with them, share meals with them. It’s hard not to interact with the students here. They are so excited about getting to know you and sharing who they are with you.

The Fun Stuff:

Favorite movie: Oh jeeze…. let’s come back to this one..(few minutes later) The Adventures of Milo and Otis. It’s phenomenal!

Favorite book: East of Eden by John Steinback

What was your favorite musical group when you were in junior high? *N Sync

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Thailand because I hear the culture, food and festivals are amazing.

You’re about to make your way down the green mile, what do you have as your last meal? Thanksgiving dinner with extra stuffing.

Who is the person you respect the most and why? My mom and dad. They have always encouraged me to follow my own path and they have shown me what it means to have a spirit of generosity.

What do you think is the secret to a good life? Loving and respecting others. There are so many ways to go about living in this world and the sooner that you realize that and appreciate that, the more satisfied you will be with your own life.

“Yes” and “No” campaigns have been going strong for the past few months and tomorrow citizens will solidify their voice. Current polls have “Yes” campaigns leading by more than half.

Copies of the proposed constitution are available at the Daraja Academy library and the academy hopes to hold a school-wide debate this Wednesday in light of the vote.  A follow-up blog post will include report on the debate and student perspectives on this exciting time in Kenyan history.

Facts about the proposed constitution:

• The proposed constitution will significantly reduce powers of the Kenyan president and create greater balance among the different branches of government
• Voters will have the ability to recall MPs if they are not performing their job adequately.
• A land commission would be created and any land illegally acquired could be repossessed. Land owned by foreigners will have leases limited to 99 years.

• Key members of the “Yes” campaign: Current President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga
• Key members of the “No” campaign: Minister for Higher Education William Ruto, former president Daniel arap Moi, most Church leaders and numerous parliament members

• Controversial issues include:
  • Abortion clause: Current legality of abortion does not change but opponents argue that the abortion clause in the constitution provides a loophole for the future.
  • Inclusion of Kadhi family courts: The Muslim courts have been in place since independence. The constitution would continue to recognize the Kadhi courts despite a recent court case that ruled the courts discriminatory, in a case brought by Christian churches.
  • The Land clause: Any type of land policies has a tendency to ignite ethnic rivalries over land disputes.

United States Involvement:

• According to a report by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States has spent an estimated $23 million toward the referendum
• US Vice President Joe Biden visited Kenya in June specifically to urge Kenyans to vote and to emphasize the power of economic change this new legislation could bring:
  • “Putting in place a new constitution, strengthening democracy and the rule of law will further open up doors for more American programs which will bring about more investments.”
    • Source: The Daily Nation: “US nudges Kenya towards reforms” (http://tinyurl.com/28gzw5p)
  • Because the constitution would greatly limit those currently in power, the authenticity of support from top government officials has been questioned. But according to sources in one of Biden’s State House meetings, the US would use it’s technology to find out the truth. An article in Kenya’s Daily Naiton reports, “The information, sources said, would be used to blacklist such leaders as anti-reformists who the US would not work with even if they succeed to take over the leadership of the country in future.”
    • Source: The Daily Nation: “Obama delivers stern warning to ‘No’ leaders.” (http://tinyurl.com/3a6uswt)

Safety:

• The government has sent out special force of 10,000 officers to the Rift Valley, a potentially tumultuous area, in an attempt to prevent any violence.
• Two MPs and an assistant minister have been arrested for hate speech in the “No” campaign after violence occurred in Nairobi last month. The severe consequences have been a testament to the tough stance the government is taking to prevent a repeat of violence that occurred during the last elections.  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10316297)
• Youth gathered in Mombasa for a peace rally (http://tinyurl.com/39w7yz4)
• Overall, the country’s sentiment is that peace will prevail during this Wednesday’s voting.

To learn more, we urge you to check out the links below. The last link includes a PDF version of the proposed constitution:

• Q&A: Kenya’s constitution referendum by BBC News (http://tinyurl.com/35cc3uh)

• “A to Z of Kenya Constitution” by Mzalendo.com, a Kenyan watchdog group (http://tinyurl.com/243w68b)

• PDF Copy of the Constitution (http://tinyurl.com/2wstlh9)

The Water Project, also know as Project Kibuki Maji, has officially been completed! Thanks to our dedicated donors, the project has provided campus with:

-       Two new water tanks that hold a combined amount of over 340,000 liters (89,000 gallons) of water

-       Brand new piping system for the existing water tanks

-       Water pumps

The academy hired George, a local contractor, to complete the job and his workers managed to finish in just a few months. The speed of the progress was astounding!  You can follow the project’s evolution and see the finished product in the photo album here.

Huge thank you to all those that donated in support of this project! The stabilization of water provides security that we will have enough water to sustain the expanding student body and that, despite any drought, the academy can continue running. Both essential ingredients to the school’s expansion and longevity.

Big, big thank you to our Daraja family for supporting this growing school!

Rosalia, Form 1, shared a poem with the audience entitled “Why Education is Important to a Kenyan Girl”. For a small girl, she had big opinions. Her confidence and conviction shined through as she spoke. To check out the video of her performance, click here.

It is definitely worth watching the video to see her perform but if you can’t, we have a transcript of the video available below:

“Why Education is Important to a Kenyan Girl”

by Rosalia, Form 1

Why is education important to a Kenyan girl?

Because we have to educate the Kenyan girls.

If it were not the Kenyan girls,

we would not be here.

We should thank all the administration

for taking care of us.

Other girls who are at home are not educated.

If it were not Mother Karua…

If Mother Karua was not there..

Wangari Maathai…

Could we have politician women?

Could we have educated women?

We should educate a Kenyan girl

so that we could have educated politicians, educated doctors, educated educators

and make our Kenya beautiful, a wonderful country and a developed country.

We should educate a Kenyan girl.

Why?

If a Kenyan girl is educated,

she is always beautiful, talented,

and ready to serve the Kenya and ready to serve her country Kenya.

We should educate a Kenyan girl.

We should thank Mr. Jason and Jenni who has volunteered to take their money

and teach us, take us, sponsor us

…four year sponsorship…

so that we could be educated

so that we could make good politicians, good lawyers, good doctors

and fulfill our dreams.

We should educate a Kenyan girl

so that we could make our Kenya better.

Daraja family member Jabiz Raisdana posted a very hard to read, but important article from Aljazeera.net entitled “Rape threat stalks Kenya’s slums” on our Daraja facebook page. This article hits close to home because at Daraja we have numerous girls from the slums-including a handful of girls from Kibera, the area mentioned in the article.

With all the students’ smiling faces and positive attitudes, sometimes it is easy to forget the depths of poverty and lack of basic infrastructure in the places that our students come from. The news piece was a great reminder of why Daraja Academy was established in the first place…

The article talks about how the communal toilets in slums such as Kibera are a target for sexual violence toward women. In some cases, the perpetrator is a family relative. In that case, the article points out, young women find themselves in a tough predicament.  ”Do I go and report on my father who is the breadwinner, then what happens to the rest of the family?” In other cases, the perpetrator is the police themselves. The article further concludes that it is hard for many of these sexual violence victims to have their voices heard.

Recently, we interviewed Mercy, Form 2, who is among the Daraja students from Kibera. When asked what surprised her the most about Daraja, she said “Being given everything you need. I just knew I would be sponsored for 4 years but I never knew I’d be given everything to use like soaps, like towels…also the food.”

If you stripped the access to secondary education, healthcare, counseling…Daraja Academy would still be a life-changing escape for  many of the students. Basic goods such as safe, sanitary toilets are a luxury and talking with students like Mercy is a reminder of just that.

The point of this blog post is to thank you. Thank you to all of our Daraja family. Although most of you have the basics in life, you are choosing to support people halfway around the world from you who don’t. Because of that, they are living a better life every single day.

What do you do when you have over 30 volunteers in one month and a former volunteer that the Daraja students ask about at least once a day? You hire Andy Harley. Andy is no rookie. He has been part of Daraja since the days when old cobwebs were the main inhabitants of the campus. A year later, he’s back helping volunteers make the most of their experiences at Daraja.

Read about everything from how he got connected to Daraja to his admission of his love for the Backstreet Boys. Get to know the man, the legend…

Name: Andy Harley

Age: 25

University: Pitzer College in Claremont, California

Major: International Intercultural Studies w/ focus on the third world & semester abroad in Botswana

How did you hear about Daraja Academy?

I heard from Sean Walashek, a current volunteer and former student of Jason’s. I saw him at a bar and he mentioned that Mr. Doherty is starting a school in Africa and I had been looking for a way to get back to Africa ever since my study abroad in Botswana. I eventually found a way of getting in contact with Jason and went to one of their first informational meetings. I asked Jason if I could go out there and volunteer and he said yes. After multiple book drives and fundraising, I was in Kenya 10 months later on October 2008.

How would you describe your initial volunteer experience at Daraja?

First, there were no students. We were out here fixing up the dorm room and classrooms so it was livable and teachable. We did some campus beautification. This place hadn’t been used in so long, it needed a face-lift! We interviewed teachers, which was exciting because we found some amazing teachers. Then, we did student interviews. It was amazing to see the students at interviews then see them on their first day at school. You could see how much they appreciated this. I was only supposed to be here for 6 months, then they asked me to stay on and I absolutely said yes. Any job opportunities back home couldn’t compare to what I was doing here.

What is the biggest surprise most volunteers have?

A few things. One is the pace of life. It’s a little bit slower and so you have to be a self-starter to stay busy. There are things to do but you have to stay on top of it to achieve what you want. We give a lot of free reign. Another thing is how loving these girls are. Some of the volunteers have said to me “I don’t think I’ve ever had that many hugs in one day my entire life.” A lot of volunteers come in thinking they will teach the students and teachers but find the students and teachers end up teaching them even more.

There are volunteers from US, Denmark, South Korea, to name a few. How do volunteers and the students communicate?

English is the language that we use at school. Some of the students have incredible English skills and can converse from the first moment, and are outgoing from the beginning. Others are shyer initially but given enough time the volunteers and students can communicate very well. Although, there is definitely a lot of giggling and laughing over misunderstandings that occur.

How do volunteers incorporate their programs into the school day?

We work with the teachers and find time during specific classes, free time, study hall. The programs are technically optional for the students but they are so excited and interested in what the volunteers are teaching that you essentially get a 100% attendance rate.

Can volunteers travel if they want?

Yes and we have wonderful contacts with certain safari companies and they can organize various trips- day trips, safaris, trips to other countries.

What do you think the students like to see in volunteers? What kind of volunteers do they attract to?

The most successful volunteers are able to interact and communicate with the students in a positive manner where they really encourage the girls to continue their education, pursue sports. The successful volunteers are those that spend a little extra time actually getting to know the girls.

How do the students react to volunteers leaving and going?

Some of the volunteers are able to make lots of deep connections, even in a short period of time. Though the students are sad to see volunteers go, they know they are better for having met that person and knowing that person will always have the student in their heart.

What is the biggest misconception about Kenya?

One, that most of the Kenyans are looking to rip you off. Most people on the street just want to understand who you are, where you are from, what brought you to Kenya. They want to practice their English. Kenyan people are very, very friendly and sometimes that throws Americans off because they aren’t used to that kind of hospitality.

The other one is people think that there is a lot of tribal conflict and that people from certain tribes can’t get a long with each other. But at Daraja, we prove that wrong. We have 19 out of the 42 tribes represented here but you wouldn’t know it because they all treat each other like sisters.

The Fun Stuff:

Favorite movie: Finding Nemo

Favorite book: Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire

What was your favorite musical group when you were in junior high? Is it embarrassing to admit Backstreet Boys?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Besides Kenya, I’ve always wanted to go to Romania and visit the castles. 

You’re about to make your way down the green mile, what do you have as your last meal? Oh that is so rough (takes a few minutes) My mom’s spaghetti and meatballs, loaf of garlic bread and a vanilla milkshake.

Who is the person you respect the most and why? My dad because he made a lot of sacrifices in life to make sure his kids had the best opportunities. He worked two jobs. He worked full time during the day and worked at a limo service company at night to pay my and my brother’s tuition.

What do you think the secret to a good life is? Being able to wake up most mornings and be able to be excited about what you’re doing. If work can actually put a smile on your face and you don’t mind staying extra hours because you enjoy it, then you’ve made it.