PAVLA’S STORY

My mom, dad and I immigrated to the US in 1986 when I was four and didn’t have very much besides an abundance of work ethic, determination and a few dollars. Fast forward to age of 12, my parents had worked hard to build a business in a very affluent neighborhood -one that we could never afford to live in. In fact, my parents used the business address so I could attend the best school district in the state at that time.

Needless to say, I did not fit in.. not even a little bit. I constantly got teased for my outdated/unpopular wardrobe and for being from another country. This small community was ‘old money’ and it was evident! It was isolating and I was longing to find my place there. Bullying was certainly a factor in my adolescence and if I had an integrated support system within my school and community, it would have made the world of difference during such an impressionable time in my life.