Overcoming Adversities: The Anita Lam Story
Al iso Viejo, CA Feb 22, 2006 – America is full of rags to riches stories of immigrants arriving with nothing but a knapsack full of hopes and dreams. Formally a Hong Kong shop girl working three jobs, Anita’s goal was to try and get to the land where anything is possible … and today she just became the third semi-annual winner of the Real Estate Apprentice Foundation (www.RealEstateApprentice.org) Grant Program.
When she arrived she looked no different than any other foreign born traveler who didn’t know anyone in America and had nothing materially to boast about … welcome to the club Anita. However, hidden in her heart were not only dreams of what might be, but the nitty-gritty determination necessary to pay the price for success. Anita realized that the odds for success were dependent upon her and that competition to get to the top would be formidable. She understood that every day and every night she would need to crank out whatever it would take to not only survive, but to somehow thrive and drive upwards.
Her dream came true, made possible by the kind sponsorship of over 20 companies and coordinated by the nation’s largest non-profit foundation focused exclusively on helping new licensees become successful in the real estate industry. They gave their highest vote of confidence to Anita. She will receive $70,000 worth of real estate education tools and services hand picked to help her get on the fast track to real estate success. Sponsors include: First American Residential Group – a divisionof the First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), Hobbs/Herder – advertising and design, iSucceed – real estate productivity enhancement, eNeighborhoods – community information, McLean International – technology and systems consulting, Thomson SouthWestern – books, Calculated Industries – calculators and measuring devices, CreateAPlan – business planning systems, Real Estate Simulator – career assessment software, ExpressCopy - online printing, The Real Estate CyberSpace Society – online technology association, Broker Agent News and RIS Media – both real estate news services, Saris Technologies – agent software, VisualTour – home tours and RealtyU® – real estate school network. The Apprentice Grant concept is simple yet centuries old in its time-tested technique: “Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day … teach them how to fish and you feed them for life.”
In an interview with the Foundation the former University administrator said, “I have fostered and advised college students for three decades. I know what it means to solve problems, create opportunities, and negotiate with difficult people. Now I am going to apply my skills and experience in helping people reach the America dream. I will not fail,” she says. “I’m a bull dog terrier at heart. A student once said to me that I am an iron fist under a velvet glove!” By her own admission she classifies herself as stubborn, persistent, intelligent and vigorous.
Anita Lam completed her licensing courses at Polley Associates Real Estate School, a RealtyU® school in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Today she works as a rookie agent for Elfant Wissahickon of Philadelphia. Louise D'Alessandro, Broker and Co-Owner of the brokerage, had these words of praise for Anita: “Anita has a strong drive and the deep core values needed in her personality to succeed. She is a hard worker who loves people and wants to help each client find the right house. I have believed in Anita since the moment I met her and although thrilled, I am not surprised that she has been selected as the Real Estate Apprentice winner!”
The complete list of Grant prizes winners for Season III are:
| Overall Winner |
|
| Anita Lam of Pennsylvania |
$70,000 Winner |
| First Runner Up |
|
| Bernice Green of Texas |
$5,000 Winner |
| Second Runner Up |
|
| Lori Heerde of Georgia |
$5,000 Winner |
| Other Top 10 Finalists |
|
| 4th – Michelle Diehl of Colorado |
$5,000 Winner |
| 5th – Lori Bair of Kansas |
$5,000 Winner |
| 6th – Kirk Shillington of Colorado |
$5,000 Winner |
| 7th – Patrick Shamblin of Colorado |
$5,000 Winner |
| 8th – Misti Carter of Tennessee |
$5,000 Winner |
| 9th – Pamela Groomes of Florida |
$5,000 Winner |
| 10th – John McCloskey of Arizona |
$5,000 Winner |
Honorable Mentions
Dan Briardy of Kansas
Scott Sullivan of Missouri
Patricia Mack of Michigan
Rosalynn Spence of Maryland
Julie Stolicker of Michigan
Kristy Chun of Georgia
Sheila Dube of Maine
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