Real $tories Episode 10: Mia: A Winding Road to her American Dream  

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Mia has overcome more obstacles than most face in a lifetime. As a new immigrant to the U.S., she navigated the challenges of learning a new language, building a career from the ground up, and understanding an unfamiliar financial system. 

After securing a job at a major insurance provider, Mia faced the battle of her life after being struck by a light rail train.  The long road to recovery required her to relearn how to walk—an extraordinary physical undertaking paired with an immense mental battle.  Her perseverance paid off, and not long after, she became the proud recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home. 

Several years later, saddled with credit card debt, Mia was referred to GreenPath by her mortgage lender. There, she found another “family” willing to listen to her financial concerns.  With GreenPath’s support, she became debt-free and is now focused on growing her own business, sharing the life lessons she fought hard to learn. 

Join Mia on her journey as she shares, in her own words, what true wealth means to her. 

Key Moments

1:44 Mia shares her experience as an immigrant to the U.S. from the Philippines, including how this affected her finances. 

3:46 She shares expectations vs. reality when it comes to the “American Dream.” 

7:21 A near-death experience changes her life forever. 

12:40 Mia is the recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home. 

17:10 She reaches out to GreenPath to help her with her debt and finds another “family.” 

21:38 Mia explains her challenges adjusting to a debt repayment plan. 

22:55 She ponders how she might have handled life events without GreenPath’s support. 

24:00 Mia compares her light rail accident with her debt and how each affected her mental health. 

27:16 She explains how she brought in extra income in a way that met her needs. 

29:05 Mia pays it forward by helping retail customers with financial concerns find resources like GreenPath. 

30:40 She describes her business venture, including the challenges she faced as an entrepreneur.  

33:15 Mia explains the story behind her business, Borrowed Life—and why this name has a lot of meaning to her. 

35:06: She explains the inspiring story of how she reunited with her husband. 

38:15 Mia describes how her true wealth is her family. 

39:19 She describes how it felt to finally become debt-free and how thankful she was for GreenPath’s support. 

40:57 Mia offers advice for someone who might be experiencing financial stress.