At 18 years old, I was a high school dropout, a waitress, and homeless. I left home with nothing but a plastic trash bag of belongings and lived out of my car. Some days, I had to choose between food, gas, or rent.

Then, when I thought life couldn’t get any worse, I was raped at gunpoint in my own home.

The police didn’t believe me. My own mother didn’t believe me. My case was never investigated.

But I refused to let my story end there.

I started at the bottom—answering 800 number calls in a customer service center – but I never gave up.

Instead:

Earned an MBA—without finishing high school or college

Raised millions in venture capital

Managed a $1.3 billion budget in public office

Fought relentlessly for justice—and won

After 19 years, I found someone who would finally investigate my case. Three days later, my rapist was caught. Not only that—he turned out to be the worst serial offender in Maryland history. My fight for justice led to justice for other women who had been ignored, just like me.

Success is within your reach. It takes resilience, grit, and an unshakable belief in yourself—even when no one else believes in you.

Where you start does not have to be where you finish.