Law school and year of graduation: I earned my B.S. in 1990 and M.B.A. in 1994, both from the University of Las Vegas (UNLV), overcoming a number of personal challenges throughout my life, including a meth addiction. When I finally became drug-free in 1998, I was even more determined to take charge of my life and pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a lawyer.

When I was wait-listed for UNLV's 1-year-old Boyd School of Law class, my boss at the time, Freddie Glusman, a local restaurateur, agreed to advocate on my behalf. Just a week before the second entering of Boyd Law class was to begin, I received a call from the dean of the law school. I was admitted as the 66^th student (in a class of 65) in Boyd's 1999 part-time J.D. program. In 2000, I transferred to the George Mason University School of Law and graduated with a J.D. in 2003.