Time to testify: 20 years ago at the age of 16, I was kicked out of the house on Christmas Eve after work that night at Publix. I became a statistic: homeless youth. Teachers concluded that I would drop out of high school, 16 and pregnant. Then, I lost 4 family members in a month including my brother. All hope was lost. 2 years later, i obtained a full-time to college from 18 scholarships, including a full ride from Bill Gates via the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. I went from a homeless shelter into a college dorm overnight and majored in math at the University of Florida. Now, I've shared this story, and as a result, over $250 million has been raised for scholarships that helped at-risk youth. I never knew the power of sharing my story.