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Womans First Job Was to Scrub Toilets at McDonalds - Now, She Owns 12 Restaurants
Entrepreneurs

Womans First Job Was to Scrub Toilets at McDonalds - Now, She Owns 12 Restaurants

Tanya Hill-Holliday is a familiar name in the McDonald's franchise. But she wasn't always. "I was told I wasn't supposed to be here, I was called every name BUT my name," she told CBS News.Luckily, she didn't listen. Now, she's the proud owner of a dozen McDonald's restaurants in Pennsylvania and her story of perseverance is inspiring others to dream big. From Scrubbing Toilets to Making History as Philly’s First Black Woman to Own a McDonald’sTanya Hill-Holliday landed her first job working as a part-time crew member at McDonald's while attending Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She was cleaning toilets, scrubbing baseboards, and wiping tables. It was far from glamorous. But that didn't matter, she enjoyed it anyway. "I always enjoyed what I was doing, as difficult as it was to be told, 'You got to clean a table, you got to clean the toilets, you got to scrub the baseboards." "'You got to do...' I did it."Tanya Hill-Holliday via CBS PhiladelphiaUpon graduating from university with a degree in management, she immediately jumped into the McDonald's management trainee program. She's never looked back. From there, she crawled her way up the corporate ladder, from crew member to supervisor to assistant manager to vice president. Despite being constantly told she didn't belong, she ignored the haters, put her head down, and just kept on working. It paid off.She's Lovin' It!Forty-four years and 13 positions later, Holliday is now the proud owner of a dozen restaurants. Using her stock options, she bought her very first franchise in 2005. Today, it's worth over $1.5 million. Not only was it her first restaurant, it was a first in the Philly history books. She is recognized as the very first African American woman to own and operate a McDonald’s in the “City of Brotherly Love.” Since then, she's purchased 11 more restaurants. Currently, she has more than 600 employees, some of whom have been with her from day one. She considers them all family.And now, she's giving back. She serves as the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association Chair and CEO of 168 entities across the U.S. According to its website, the NBMOA is "the largest organization of established African American entrepreneurs in the world."As the Chair and CEO, Holliday is committed to ensuring that "McDonald’s fully engages the African American community in an authentic, respectful, and positive manner." She plans to implement new and innovative programming to enrich the members and benefit the communities they serve. Never Give up on Your DreamsHolliday hopes her journey will inspire young people just starting out on theirs. "When you think you've hit a brick wall, go over the wall, go around the wall — if you gotta go under the wall — do what you have to do but just don't let roadblocks stop you. Keep persistent. Be strong."Tanya Hill-HollidayA little praying doesn't hurt either."Stay motivated, stay encouraged, stay prayed up. I stay prayed up all the time," Holliday added.With sheer perseverance and tenacity, Holliday proved her critics wrong. Not only that, but she went all the way, rising to the top AND making history. Not bad for a woman who started by scrubbing toilets.Her story is an inspiration to all of us. A trailblazer and a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, she proves that determination, resilience, and the refusal to give up can lead to achieving even our wildest dreams. More from Goalcast:Freezing Homeless Man Goes to a Closed McDonald’s – Manager Defies All Rules and Does ThisLittle Girl Starts Screaming at McDonald’s – Mom Burst into Tears After Seeing One Employee’s ActionsWoman Takes Brother With Autism to McDonald’s – One Employee’s Behavior Towards Him Goes Viral

441-Lb Dad Loses More Than Half His Weight to Get Healthy for His Kids — Now He’s Running Marathons
Motivation

441-Lb Dad Loses More Than Half His Weight to Get Healthy for His Kids — Now He’s Running Marathons

31-year-old Rob Sparkes of Somerset, England knew he had to make a change. Not just for himself, but for his two children as well.Topping the scales at 441 pounds, Rob was missing out on many of the things that other parents got to do with their children. Things like going on rides at the play park and going to movies. Just walking up a flight of stairs would leave him breathless.But more than the FOMO (fear of missing out) was the fear that if he didn't do something soon, his kids would grow up without a father.So, he decided to lose the weight, and in doing so, gained a whole new life.How a Dad Lost More Than Half His Body Weight After a routine checkup and a dire warning from his doctor that he was on the road to diabetes or worse, Rob began his weight-loss journey in September 2019.Living off of a diet of pizza, bacon, chips, and burgers & fries and chasing it down with a 2-liter of Coke, Rob was consuming a whopping 6,000 calories a day. More than double the recommended amount, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans."I just couldn’t stop. I just got in a really bad rut,” Rob said.Using his kids as motivation and with the encouragement of his wife, he started by changing his eating habits. He replaced his junk food with chicken and veggies and ditched the sugary snacks. Six months later he decided to start working out. While the world was coming to a stop thanks to a global pandemic, Rob was just getting going. In March 2020, he downloaded the Couch to 5K app and joined the gym and a running club. Nine months later, he crossed the finish line of his first marathon, having just run 26.2 miles (42.19 km). “It was meant to be an official one, but they all got postponed due to Covid, so my running club did an unofficial one. I had my wife and kids there waiting for me at the end, and it felt amazing. I ran it in five hours and 24 minutes, but I ran the whole thing."And he hasn't stopped.Losing Weight Was Just the Beginning(InspireMore)In just fifteen months, Rob lost an impressive 228 pounds. Not only did he reach his goal weight, but he also gained a new passion for running. Nowadays, he spends nearly every weekend running a half marathon to stay in shape. He's also raced in several marathons and raised $1500 for the Alzheimer Society by hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge—a 25-mile hike up the 3 highest peaks in Yorkshire.And in January 2022, Robert Sparkes fulfilled his dream of competing in an ultramarathon, running a grueling 43 miles (69 km). He completed the Country to Capital Ultra Marathon, which winds through the English countryside and into the heart of London, in 9 hours and 55 minutes.Rob's transformation is truly an inspiration. With dedication, commitment, and hard work, he was able to achieve his weight loss goals. Today, not only is Rob able to keep up with his children, but he's also able to do things he never thought possible. By prioritizing his health, he was able to achieve a healthier and happier life for himself and his family. And he no longer worries that he won't be around for his kids, which is the biggest win of all.https://www.goalcast.com/weight-loss-motivation/

Woman Diagnosed With Osteoarthritis Starts Powerlifting—And Becomes an International Competitor
Success Stories

Woman Diagnosed With Osteoarthritis Starts Powerlifting—And Becomes an International Competitor

58-year-old Kelly Clark hated exercise. And quite simply, she didn’t think she had the time for it. She often travelled for work, which meant staying in hotels and eating takeout food. It seemed impossible to maintain a healthy lifestyle this way. Over the years, Clark’s health deteriorated and she gained weight. But the real wake-up call came when she was just 49 years old. She had pain in her side, and general body aches kept her from performing simple tasks, like closing the trunk of her car and reaching for things above her head. She found it painful to even carry a bag on her shoulder.RELATED: Concerned Family Call Police on Elderly Man Who Wants to Drive Across America – The Cop Who Arrives Has Different PlansLike many people, she tried to live with it, but soon the pain became too much to bear. Clark decided to visit her doctor. The then 49-year-old was shocked by the diagnosis: osteoarthritis. The solution? “A cocktail of drugs,” as Clark put it.“That was the real trigger,” she said. “I don’t want to carry on being like that.” Powerlifting Was Clark’s Opportunity to Shine The medications interfered with her sleep. Overweight and popping pills just to keep the pain at bay, Clark knew that something had to change. She had to put healthier routines into her life. She knew she had to take better care of herself.So Clark started powerlifting. Over the next nine years, her regular training helped Clark lose a third of her body weight. The pain faded. She can now bench 165 pounds and says she’s fitter than she was in her 20s. Most importantly, she was able to get off all her medications. That was the biggest relief.But Clark didn’t stop there. Reaching her fitness goals and feeling better than ever, Clark was inspired to push herself even further in powerlifting. One day, when she was volunteering at a Special Olympics event, Clark thought to herself: I want to compete!RELATED: 17-Year-Old Creates Website For Teens to Help Deliver Groceries to Elderly—Now, It’s a World-Wide OrganizationShe qualified to compete in the World Powerlifting Championships in 2019; then, the South Yorkshire resident represented England in the 2021 World Bench Press Championships. Clark found that with the added element of competition, she was more motivated than ever.In New Zealand, at the Commonwealth Championships, Clark won the gold medal in Equipped Bench Press, lifting 132 pounds. She also took home the silver medal in Classic Bench Press.“Both competitions took place on the same day,” Clark remembered, “which was quite difficult. You have to keep your body weight within a certain limit, so I had to do two weigh-ins. I was running between the weighing room for the second competition and the podium.”Life Can Shock You in Incredible Ways(Yorkshire Post)Thinking back to where she was with her health less than a decade ago, the journey has been like a dream for Clark. “It’s changed my life in so many different ways. I’ve gone from totally unfit on arthritis medication to coming off it and lifting.”Her transformation is indeed inspiring. Said Clark, “If someone had told me I would be this mobile, let alone competing in international competitions ten years ago, I would never have believed them.”But there she is, showing all of us how to age, not just gracefully, but powerfully.KEEP READING:Woman Sees Elderly Passenger Get off the Bus – Immediately Takes a Photo When the Driver Follows Her Out for This Reason

Check Out the Banksy-Style Artist Who Replaces Broken Sidewalks With Gorgeous Art
Success Stories

Check Out the Banksy-Style Artist Who Replaces Broken Sidewalks With Gorgeous Art

Walking past a colourful street art or an art installation is a sight for sore eyes. Art that stands out from the monotonous nature of the rest of the scene often brings joy to the viewers. This Lyon-based anonymous artist is doing just that in the streets of Europe. Mosaic Tiles on City StreetsBraintoEm Emem is a Lyon-based street artist who remains anonymous. His street name is Em Emem and he is renowned world-wide for his art. He is called the bitumen mender, who also repairs any holes in the sidewalks, beautifies storm drain covers with his mosaic of tiles. The street artist has been active since 2016, and has been decorating several imperfections in a city life bringing a new meaning to restoration. He has invented this urban art and calls it "flaking". This comes from the French word flaque, which means puddle or a patch. RELATED: Slogans Meant to Spread Hate – How One Street Artist Uses Them to Bring People TogetherHe has worked on cracked city walls, uneven potholes on weared city roads flaking them with his colours and patterns. The old alley that he once worked in, later moved and "hypnotised" him into taking up this art. That alley housed his first workshop, also becoming his first canvas. The Guardian"One day, I patched up the entrance to the driveway leading at my workshop...I made her little cloured bandages with ceramic scraps at my disposal," said Ememem in an interview with Brainto. Colorful Bandaids BraintoThe child in us rejoices looking at color. Hand a kid a colourful item or mend a wound with a colourful bandaid, have the same charm. Em Emem just made this larger for all the structural wounds in the city. The vibrant repairs started with his home in Lyon, later spreading to the streets of Paris, Norway, Scotland, Germany, Italy, and so on. Brainto"A huge pothole greeted me every morning. So before wallowing in it, I one day grabbed a trowel and set about making him a custom bandage," narrated Ememem. "A high-fashion coat grafted onto the asphalt. The first 'flack' was born and Ememem with it. Suddenly, I understood that I was going to spend the rest of my life doing another one, and then another, and another"...He was a visual artist before becoming the pavement surgeon working with Mosaics, ceramics and designs. One unexpected wound and this man became a poet, with a drive to heal and revive many such scars.This article in 2018 protected his anonymity yet made his art rise to fame. The reporter rightly wrote: "A pothole disappears, tiles instead, a nice day. Thanks to Ememem, how many of the people of Lyon have found that life isn't so disgusting after all?". KEEP READING:Stranger Helps Homeless Artist Launch Website – They Make $51,120 in 4 Hours

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Promises To Give Away Most of His Money — He Starts By Giving $100M to Dolly Parton
Success Stories

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Promises To Give Away Most of His Money — He Starts By Giving $100M to Dolly Parton

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is already one of the richest people on the planet and he's trying to become one of the world's greatest philanthropists. The 58-year-old American entrepreneur says he plans to give away most of his $124 billion fortune during his lifetime. While speaking with CNN Business, Bezos admits he plans to pledge billions of dollars to help fight climate change and reduce inequality. And guess where he started his remarkable philanthropic journey? Dolly Parton. What Jeff Bezos Plans to do With His Massive Fortune@jeffbezos/InstagramBezos — who has been criticized over the years for not pledging more money to charity — unveiled his philanthropy plans after donating $100 million to the renowned country music star, Dolly Parton. Parton, who's a successful philanthropist in her own right, plans to use Bezos' donation for charitable causes. Investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates have already promised to give massive amounts of their respective fortunes away — perhaps why Bezos has had a change of heart. RELATED: Jeff Bezos Says a ‘Work-Life Balance’ Isn’t Ideal, Here’s What He Suggests Doing InsteadAsked by CNN whether he intended to give away most of his earnings, the businesses man answered, "yeah, I do."Bezos didn't share additional details about where he would donate most of his fortune, he admitted the hard part is "figuring out how to do it in a levered way."The multi-billionaire (imagine being a MULTI billionaire?) previously pledged $10 billion to the Bezos Earth Fund, an initiative he launched in 2020 to help fight climate change. Previously, Bezos was criticized for spending enormous amounts of money on trips to space instead of helping to solve problems here on Earth. RELATED: Unemployed Woman Wins $46 Million Lottery and Immediately Gives Away a Huge Amount of Her WinningsOver the past two decades, Bezos became one of the richest people on the planet after his 1994-founded internet company Amazon became a global phenomenon. Amazon has spawned a bevy of other companies and ventures including Whole Foods, MGM Studios, The Washington Post, and Twitch, to name a few. In 2021, Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO but remained on its board as chairman. He is currently exploring ventures (and eventually parts of the galaxy) through his space tourism program, Blue Origin. Why Jeff Bezos Just Gave $100 Million to Dolly Parton(@dollyparton/Instagram | @jeffbezos/Instagram)So how does Dolly Parton play into all of this?As the catalyst for Bezos' impending philanthropy venture, the businessman donated Dolly Parton the Bezos Courage & Civility Award, which recognizes leaders who "pursue solutions with courage and civility."Parton, a 76-year-old philanthropist, will be able to donate the $100 million to charities of her own choice. While speaking with CNN, Bezos' partner, Lauren Sánchez says, "we couldn't have thought of someone better than to give this award to Dolly, and we know she's going to do amazing things with it.""I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their heart is," said Parton in a video shared on her social media channels. "I will do my best to do good things with this money."Parton has been a high-profile supporter of charities for years. In 1986, she founded the Dollywood Foundation, a foundation that grants scholarships and awards to local high school students and gives free books to children across the world.KEEP READING:Jeff Bezos Commits $2 Billion to Help Homeless and Launch Preschools, Surprises Us With His Incredible Generosity

Woman Works Grueling Hours Cleaning Up School as the Janitor - Now She’s One of the School’s Most Beloved Teachers
Success Stories

Woman Works Grueling Hours Cleaning Up School as the Janitor - Now She’s One of the School’s Most Beloved Teachers

Wanda Smith always knew she wanted to be a teacher. But then...life happened. Her mother became ill just after Smith graduated from high school and she had to defer college to look after her and her younger sisters.A husband, 3 kids, and nearly 20 years later, Smith decided it was now or never. Even though she was already juggling her family, a sick mother, AND working to make ends meet, she enrolled in night classes. She was 37 years old.It would take 9 years, the loss of her mother and sisters, and quitting multiple times before she finally walked across the stage to get her diploma. Three decades after graduating high school, at the age of 47, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science. How the Former Janitor Finally Made Her Dream a Reality(I.M.)In order to provide for her family, Smith worked around the clock as a school bus monitor and a janitor for the Brenham Independent School District in her hometown of Brenham, Texas. She woke up at 6 am for her job as a bus monitor, came home to care for her kids and mother, and then worked as a custodian from 3 - 11 pm. “Sometimes I didn’t get to sleep. I never really thought about it, I just did it because it had to be done,” Smith told TODAY.After years of sacrificing her own dreams for the sake of others, Smith finally decided it was her turn. She enrolled at a local college where she earned her associate degree.RELATED: School Janitor Walks to Work for a Sad Reason – So His Students Give Him a Gift That Makes Him CryThen a year later, in 2004, she enrolled at Sam Houston State University. Her path wasn't easy and she faced a lot of adversity along the way, including the devastating deaths of not only her mother but both of her sisters as well.However, Smith fought through with a lot of hard work, dedication, and grit. And her husband Darren and their 3 kids supported her, every step of the way.They were there, cheering her on, the day her dream finally became reality. After years of attending night classes, Smith graduated with the class of 2010.She Started Out as a Janitor, Today She's a First-Grade Teacher Smith returned to Brenham Elementary School. But this time, instead of cleaning a classroom, she was heading it — as a first grade teacher. Her journey had come full circle.More than 10 years later, she remains devoted to her students and her community."When I stand in front of my classroom, I am living my dream," she told Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY.RELATED: An Elementary School Janitor Just Became Its Principal – How He Did It Is UnbelievableIn 2021 she was recognized for her unwavering dedication during Teacher Appreciation Week.School principal Kim Rocka told TODAY, “Wanda Smith is the portrait of an American teacher. She’s such an inspiration to us all.” The school gifted her with a commemorative schoolyard bench. Additionally, Sam Houston State established a $500 scholarship in her name.Brenham’s mayor, Milton Tate Jr, also got in on the action. Using one of Smith’s own signature lines, he officially declared May 4, 2021 as “Be the Best You Can Be” Wanda Smith Day.What a Janitor Turned Teacher Can Teach All of Us(GNN)"Never give up." This is the mantra that Smith lives by and that she teaches to her students. Smith's journey from custodian to teacher is a lesson in perseverance and never, ever, giving up on your dreams.So many of us think that once we reach a certain age, we have to let go of our dreams. That it's too late to follow our passions. But age really is just a number and there is still so much more living left to do. It's never too late. KEEP READING:Janitor Is Blindfolded and Put Into a Police Car – Screams and Cries When She Sees Where She Was Taken

Ex-convict Released From Prison After 20 Year Sentence - Makes a Surprising Plan for Vengeance After Returning Home
Success Stories

Ex-convict Released From Prison After 20 Year Sentence - Makes a Surprising Plan for Vengeance After Returning Home

In the 1990s, 17-year-old Wallace Peeples was sentenced to prison for armed robbery. During two decades behind bars, Peeples kept a remarkably positive mindset and refused to let being on the inside affect his outlook on life.After being incarcerated by the State of Pennsylvania, Peeples (aka "wallo267") became an avid book reader and devoured his time to continue learning. Even though time stands still inside prison, Peeples was determined not to let his lengthy sentence break him. When new inmates came into the prison, Peeples would question them to gain insight into what life was like on the outside. RELATED: Judge Sentences an Old Friend to Prison – What She Says Next Makes Him WeepHe collected outside information into a notebook which he called, "The Book of Life." Now, 20 years after his imprisonment, interviews with fellow inmates can be found on YouTube and Instagram.How a 20-Year Sentence Turned A Former Teenage Prisoner Into an Internet Sensation(@wallo267/Instagram)After serving 20 long years at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Peeples did more than just turn his life around — he's doing it for others as well.The now 49-year-old regularly helps feed people experiencing homelessness, provide financial support for families in need, and helps to mentor young Black children and teens from making bad life decisions.RELATED: What Happened to 90 Day Fiancé’s Geoffrey Paschel’s Relationship After His 18-Year Prison Sentence?In 2007, Peeples returned home after 20 years behind bars. Instead of being bitter, the ex-convict opted to pursue a plan of vengeance and make something of himself, specifically to change his family's plight of generational incarceration. Besides YouTube and Instagram, the Philadelphia native is an avid motivational speaker through his "Million $ Worth of Game" podcast — which he hosts with his cousin Gillie Da Kid. The podcast, which has over 750,000 followers on Instagram, has interviewed high-profile guests such as Dave Chappelle, Mike Tyson, Snoop Dogg, and many others. The "Million $ Worth of Game" podcast spent more than 16 weeks at number one on Apple's music podcast charts. What's more, Peeples and Gillie signed a lucrative multi-year deal with digital media company Barstool Sports, hosting their own show on the popular network.(@mworthofgame/Instagram)According to Peeples website, the ex-convict caught "lightning in a bottle" after his sentence and crafts "powerful viral content" to inspire people across the world to step into their greatness and "discover their purpose."RELATED: High School Dropout Becomes Lawyer And Frees Her Innocent Brother From Prison"Wallo267" gets over seven million social media impressions weekly and his online followers have become evangelists of sorts, sharing his high-energy videos of inspiration, humour, and hard-earned lessons across the internet — all of which consist of Peeples signature and unflinching flair, honesty, and humour. How the Ex-Convict Turned his Misfortunes into Social Media Clout Upon his release from prison, Peeples used a few hundred dollars to buy tee shirts, which he sold hand-to-hand on the streets of North Philadelphia while simultaneously building a social media following and sharing daily motivation and inspirational videos. In less than three years after his release, Peeples leveraged his social media brand into partnerships with the NFL Network, Global Citizen, Puma, Foot Locker, and Philly Union. He's also given lectures at Penn State University, the University of Maryland, St. John's University, Yale University, and his own Ted Talks.RELATED: Sunny Jacobs: The Woman Who Found Her Purpose In PrisonSince his incarceration, Peeples has established himself as a renowned role model for the youth and the community. He's a shining example of how being honest can build opportunity, and prevent others from making the same mistakes. KEEP READING:Inspiring Man Loses 50 Pounds In Prison, Continues to Transform His Life Through Fitness

Restaurant Manager Catches Homeless Woman's Happy Dance After Job Interview - And Hires Her
Uplifting News

Restaurant Manager Catches Homeless Woman's Happy Dance After Job Interview - And Hires Her

She was nervous before her interviewFor two years, 21-year-old Kallayah Jones was homeless. She jumped from one house to another, but couldn't earn enough cash to get a place of her own.Finally, she had a chance at a job—to be a server at The Spot Sports Bar and Grill in Georgia."I was having anxiety attacks and weak parts before I came to the job interview," she told Today. "My boyfriend was like hey calm down, be yourself."Doing her happy danceWhen the job interview happened, Jones was herself. This was noticed by the restaurant manager, Dakara Spence, who was impressed by Jones.“She had like a great energy, I felt it when she walked in, she seemed really positive,” Dakara said.She was so confident that the interview went well that she did a little dance in the parking lot. But little did she know her "happy dance" was caught on the restaurant's security camera.I was excited. When I got outside, I didn’t know that the cameras caught me.Kallayah JonesHired on the spotAs soon as Dakara Spence, the manager that interviewed Jones, saw that video she wanted to hire the candidate."I saw myself in her," Spence told Today, adding that she also had spent time experiencing homelessness. "When she came in the interview with her scarf on. I know what that's like," she said."Nobody should be judged by anybody."Dakara SpenceDakara went on to announce the news to her new hire."I called her phone and I said ‘I’m going to hire you and I seen your happy dance, so you can continue dancing’ and she was just screaming through the phone. It was a beautiful moment for me,” she announced to Jones.After her video and story went viral, Jones was asked about how to do her dance and when people should do it. "Anytime you're happy. Anytime you get a blessing. Anytime you had a great opportunity and had something you've been working towards for years or months or whatever you're praying for, just dance. It don't matter what it is," she said in another interview. But it doesn't have to be her particular dance."Do your dance. Do that dance. Do every dance, ok?"Do your happy danceJones' story is a reminder that homelessness can, unfortunately, happen to anyone (even though we have the means to eradicate it!). But it's also a reminder to celebrate every little victory in life—whether it's a new job, an assignment completed, or any of life's many joys.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For OthersCelebrate Your resilienceIf no one else is watching, be your own cheerleader.

As A Child, She Lived In A Garbage Dump - Today, She Just Earned A College Scholarship
Uplifting News

As A Child, She Lived In A Garbage Dump - Today, She Just Earned A College Scholarship

To accomplish her goals took years of perseverance and hard work.She spent her days in Smoky MountainWhen Sophy Ron was a child, she spent 8 years essentially living in a notorious Cambodian garbage dump called Steng Meanchey, also known as "Smoky Mountain."Every day, Ron would join thousands of people picking through the garbage amidst toxic fumes in hopes of finding food and recyclables to sell. In a day's work, she'd earn about 0.50 cents a day, enough for a few cups of rice to share with her parents and six siblings."I didn't realize it was smelly, I didn't realize it was dirty," she told ABC Australia in 2019, adding that the local school didn't have space for her."I slept there, I ate there, I did everything there, so it became my home."Sophy RonThe opportunity to change her lifeBut one day, she met Scott Neeson, the founder of the Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF)."He asked me whether I wanted to study English, and at that time I had no idea what English was," she told ABC Australia."I ran home feeling happy because he promised he would take me to school."Ron recalls her first day of school at age 11 — it was the first time she saw groups of other children playing and laughing.Ron worked hard at school and managed to earn a scholarship to complete a pre-college year of study at the University of Melbourne's Trinity College.She has since started a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and hopes to return to Cambodia and start a business."I can't really describe the feeling. I hope it changes my life in the future," she said.Throughout her journey, Ron had many chances to let go and stop her incredible success story. But she persevered, prompting her to share these words of wisdom:"I have this message throughout my life journey: a not-giving-up message. It doesn't matter in what circumstances."Sophy RonMake your dreams come trueThis story isn't about how Ron got an opportunity — sadly, millions of children in poverty don't get a helping hand. It's about Ron's hard work to take that opportunity and transform it into a new path for herself. It couldn't have been easy. More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HouseHow Serial Entrepreneur Dan Lok Went from “The Invisible Boy” to Multi-Millionaire Before the Age of 30How Richard Branson Channeled This Negative Emotion Into a Billion-Dollar EmpireHomeless Woman With the Voice of an Angel Scores a Record Deal

16 Years Ago, He Faced Up To 20 Years In Jail - Thanks To A Judge's Verdict, He's Now A Lawyer
Uplifting News

16 Years Ago, He Faced Up To 20 Years In Jail - Thanks To A Judge's Verdict, He's Now A Lawyer

All roads were leading to prison for one Detroit man, but a kind-hearted judge decided he could have a better future instead. A big second chanceWhen Edward Martell first met Wayne County Circuit Judge Bruce Morrow, they were across from each other in a courtroom. Martell, then 27, had been in and out of trouble with the law and was facing up to 20 years in jail for the delivery and manufacture of crack cocaine.But Judge Morrow saw something in the young man that didn't deserve to be wasted in prison. So, he gave Martell three year's probation and a chance to make something of himself.“He said, ‘I challenge you to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company instead of being out here selling drugs,’” Martell recalled to Deadline Detroit. “And I love a challenge.”“Any other judge would have flushed me."Edward MartellWorked hard to become a lawyerSomething inexplicable changed within Martell. After finishing his probation, he enrolled at Wayne County Community College.“They asked what I wanted to study, and I said I want to be a lawyer,” Martell recalled to Deadline Detroit. “They laughed at me. They said with your background you should go into heating and cooling.”But he kept moving towards his dream, doing incredibly well in all his classes and exams. So well, in fact, that he earned a scholarship to a four-year college degree.However, to be a lawyer Martell would need to make amends for his long history of drug dealing. To do so, he'd have to pass a character and fitness review.“I was chasing a dream with no guarantees,” he said. “My application” – which explained the circumstances and consequences of his checkered past – “was 1,200-plus pages.”At his final hearing, Morrow, the judge who gave him a second chance, testified that Martell was worthy of passing the bar, and so he did."I sobbed like a baby."Edward MartellThe judge helped to turn his life aroundSixteen years after helping set Martell on the right path, Morrow stands by his decision. “It’s a crazy cliché, but some defendants, that’s what they need, too,” he said. “If you believe like I believe, that there but for the grace of God go you and me... It took some intelligence to get in and out of the kind of trouble he got into. I told him, ‘You could be my son. Let’s see how far you can go.’ And man, he hasn’t finished yet.”For Martell, he said his success can be seen as an example for others to follow."I think my testimony may provide some of these young men and women with some motivation," Martell said. "You plant a seed, and hope it will grow." Give more people that second chanceMistakes happen. People go down difficult paths — often due to some form of trauma — and sometimes that can lead to years in prison. But for Martell, that's not how things played out. He was given a second chance and enough support to bounce back. Now, he's a successful lawyer.This impressive turn-around story prompts the question: How many more people could bounce back with a more lenient and rehabilitation-focused justice system?More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others