Gac Filipaj

Gac Filipaj (who is now 52) came to the US in 1992 as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia.  For the past 12 years, he worked as a "heavy cleaner" janitor at Columbia University emptying trash bins and cleaning toilets.  During his time there, he spent the days working till 11pm and the rest of the night studying.  After 12 years he finally earned a bachelors degree in Classics.  He didn't speak a word of English when he came here, but got a job at Columbia to get a tuition break so he could take English proficiency classes.  In 2000 he enrolled in the School of General studies and passed the rigorous courses needed to get a degree in Classics.

What an amazing and inspirational story!  If you stick your mind to it, you can achieve anything!

    Look at that smile! I would be proud too!! :)