"When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways — either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength."

"Choose to be optimistic, it feels better."

"My mother was my first teacher. She was a very kind and compassionate person. She never went to school, but she had a lot of common sense."

"Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it."

"I joke sometimes that I am the longest-serving refugee."