When my parents split, I was just a young boy, living under the care of my mother along with my two older brothers. We often found ourselves in a situation that many families can relate to—times when the fridge was almost empty, and my mom was doing everything in her power to make ends meet. Despite the hardships, she never let her circumstances define her, nor ours. My mother and her sisters raised us on the bedrock of love, family, empathy, hard work, and education—values I hold dear to this day.

Watching my mother overcome adversity, day in and day out, taught me some of the most important lessons of my life. She worked multiple jobs, sacrificed her own dreams, and still found time to instill strong Canadian values in her children. She taught me the meaning of resilience, that no matter what life throws at you, you pick yourself up and keep going. These are the principles I carry with me: the importance of hard work, the strength of community, and the belief that no Canadian should ever have to face life’s challenges alone.

When it came to my own journey, I knew that education would be my path forward. I’ve had the privilege of attending every level of schooling in Canada—from elementary to high school, college, and university—where I became a lifelong learner. But along the way, I saw first-hand how the system isn’t working for everyone. As someone who worked three jobs while studying full-time, all while balancing the responsibilities of being a new father, I understand how difficult it is to manage life’s demands. My wife, who I’ve been with since high school, and I welcomed our daughter during my undergraduate years. It was the happiest time of my life, but it was also one of the most overwhelming, trying to juggle family, work, and studies.