Lela Ashkarian, PA, CRS, GRI, e-PRO

Realtor, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Coco Plum, Duck Key, Florida Keys

Let me begin by humbly expressing my gratitude and honor to be in your powerful presence.

My growth started in a valley of fertile farmlands surrounded by mountains in Lebanon where, as a child, I constantly dreamed of seeing the other side of the mountains, of going to America, the land of opportunity.

Suddenly, as a young woman, my life came to the brink of disaster during a bloody civil war, and I was forced to flee my country with just the clothes on my back. Imagine going from such a nightmare to the peaceful, sun-kissed beaches of the Florida Keys! I may not have brought physical possessions with me, but I brought something far more powerful: the deep-rooted survival skills of my refugee parents and grandparents who had fled the Armenian genocide.

When I first arrived in America, I had no idea what this country could offer me. English was my fourth language, and I struggled with finding ways to express myself. Nevertheless, I maintained a "can do" attitude. I worked into the wee hours of the morning, studying the By Referral Only materials in my tiny, ocean-side cottage. I reviewed maps, handpicked homes for sale, and calculated the comparables for the right sales.

In those early days, I had to do it all by myself, but, as time went by, I carefully chose my business partners, making sure they shared my mindset and were in harmony with the system I had developed to market and promote properties. I have emerged an award-winning real estate broker and consultant, caring and compassionate in helping people find their piece of paradise.

Aristotle said, "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." Throughout my life, despite all the knowledge I have gained, I know have barely scratched the surface, but look at how far I have come!

Life is about mountains and valleys, and I've experienced both. I have enjoyed the exhilaration of reaching the mountaintops, and survived the valley depths of heartache, divorce, financial loss, and depression. In my most difficult times, I have experienced growth spurts. Each time, I became more aware of who I was, what lessons I could learn, and how much I could endure. I became a stronger, better, more determined woman.

I have experienced many crossings in my life. My passion for knowledge has served as their foundation, just as faith helped me manage these crossings. The less I resiste