I remember being lost on the road at night as a family, after missing our bus stop. Even shopping at the supermarket was difficult. I would get disappointed at myself for not learning English fast enough. For not understanding how power bills worked. I found it hard to smile sometimes. 

Sports are beautiful - because the language is universal. I played football at St. John's College and made a lot of friends. I could pay attention to how other people behaved and started noticing qualities I wanted to build in myself. Things like teamwork and leadership.

After school, I started volunteering at the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. We spent a lot of time with the elderly - often just to listen and help with gardening. It was rewarding being there for someone else and I realised how important it is to help others. 

I'm completing my CFA at the moment and about to start my new job as an Auditor at Ernst & Young. Life has been good to me, despite everything that has happened. I think the true difficulty comes when we stop learning - that’s when we stop growing. My struggles have only helped me better adapt to change.

What does it mean to be strong? I think being strong involves understanding both your strengths and weaknesses. Being strong includes knowing when not to give up, even through the hardest times. It also means knowing when to ask for help - which can sometimes be more difficult than trying to push through life alone.

Whether we see it or not, everyone goes through their own challenges and some days we can loose sight of the way forward. If you’re able to help others - do it. A smile or a handshake might just be enough to help lift us up.