As a child, Sam used lemons to make lemonade. When he was still a baby, his father died. Since then, when he had time off from school, he had assisted his mother, Susan, in making additional money. Because they were unable to afford a home or an apartment, Sam and Susan lived in a trailer park.

Sam was teased all the time in class. He was frequently referred to by school bullies as a “bum” and a “broke boy.” It was reportedly said to him by one bully, Jared, that “People like you will always be stuck living in trailers.”

Sam learned from his mother that he needed to have a thick skin in order to survive, therefore he never let the taunts depress him. He continued to hope that he and his mother would one day acquire a mansion.

Susan, who was autistic and had trouble finding a stable work, made just enough money to cover Sam’s school tuition and keep the lights on. “We may not have much, but always be grateful for the little that we do have,” Susan would say to her son.