From SGI USA, I'm Cassidy Bradford, and this is Budability, the weekly series where I talk with

Buddhists from all walks of life about the power we each have to change our lives and the world

around us.

It can be hard to imagine big goals when we don't see other people accomplishing them. It's even harder to be the one to pave the way.

So how can we be up to the challenge?

Fortunately, we chant Namyo Hōdenge Kyo,

which helps us summon up our courage and go for the things we've rarely, if ever, seem done.

Today's guest, Samira Yanbe, of Iowa, lived through a civil war in her home country, the Ivory Coast.

From that moment, she started to become someone who

opens big doors for others. She shares how she's determined and redetermined to make big

things happen, even when some have doubted her. Welcome Samira and thank you so much for joining Budability and sharing your story today.

Your experiences, I think really timely with the world today.

We're going to be talking about the humanistic principles of Buddhism and how you developed

your own confidence in the power of your life.

So to kind of help everyone get acquainted with you, just please introduce yourself.

Yeah, thank you so much, Cassidy.

I'm so happy to be here. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be on budability.

Yeah, so again, my name is Samira Yonbe, and I am 26 years old. I'm currently live in Iowa.

I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in mechanical engineering. And a little background, I was born and raised in Arby Coast, of Caudivar, which is a very

small country in West Africa.

And then I moved to the US actually almost 10 years ago, which is kind of crazy.

Oh, my gosh.

...