Hero Spotlight: Maria overcomes her past and pursues her passion

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Abandoned by her mother at 22 days old and later abused by her sister, Maria’s resilience and strength are remarkable. She refuses to let her past define her as she works to make her dream of helping others a reality. Still a high school student, she attends Just Hope Survival Skills classes and is planning to study Business Administration in college. Her goal is to learn how to run a business to eventually start a foundation that helps children and adults see their worth despite their past experiences. See how Maria has learned to not merely survive, but to thrive….