My dad was violently abusive towards my mother for most of my life. He left us when I was 16. I've worked my ass of every day since then to give my family a better life than the one we had.

We were evicted from our home because we couldn't pay rent. I got 2 part-time jobs during high school to help my mother keep a smaller home and care for my siblings.

Two years ago, I graduated from a prestigious Canadian law school.

However, one of the proudest moments of my life was when my youngest brother (who is 15 now) called me one day and said "I'm gay. This is who I am and I'm proud of who I am"

That I somehow found a way to build a home where he feels safe and comfortable...that he has the courage to proudly declare what he stands for...and that I played a part in raising a person who has such a wonderful sense of self-awareness at such a young age...made my heart swell with a sense of peace and pride that I have never felt before.

All the heartache, trials and tribulations that came before that moment suddenly made sense.