I have never taken an opportunity for granted.

I was born to teenage parents living on the streets of Calcutta. Before I turned 4, I was sent to Loreto Convent, an all-girls boarding school for orphans run by Irish nuns.

I challenge the status quo, dare to ask "why," and seek out challenging opportunities. Sister Cyril nurtured my unbreakable spirit. From her, I learned to be adaptive, resilient, and self-reliant.

Mother Teresa was a nun and teacher at Loreto Convent for nearly two decades before she left to found the Missionaries of Charity. Long after, she remained a regular presence at school. To us, she was simply our storyteller.

I immigrated to the Bay Area soon after I graduated from college. I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the country. Today, as an American, I fight for equitable and equal opportunities for all, without discrimination.