INDIANAPOLIS — Twenty years might seem like a lifetime ago for some, but when he stands on the floor of the Indiana State Senate , Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-District 30) can't help but remember the path he took to get there and some of the powerful life lessons he's learned along the way.

"We can evolve and we can succeed, and we can rebuild no matter how difficult things get," said Qaddoura, who's no stranger to rebuilding.

He's done it a few times now.

The first time came when he left his home in the West Bank, where he grew up in poverty, moving to New Orleans in 2000 right after high school to study computer science.

"Pursuing the American dream, I had only one dream in life. I wanted to become wealthy so I could take care of mom and dad," Qaddoura said.

Five years later, Qaddoura's "

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