b'Securing the AmericanDreamAdvice from David Hanna to future Harley Langdale Jr.College ofBusiness Administration studentsBy Ashley BraswellThirty-nine years ago, Joseph Hanna trusted his faithGrowing up was somewhat different, David said. My and took a life-changing risk that would secure hisparents spoke and could write English, but they were future family for many generations.limited in their ability to help us with schoolwork. With the financial support of his aunt, Mary HannaIn grade school, David was in honors classes and LaHood, Joseph, his four brothers, and his sister leftlater in highschool took advantage of the Advanced Lebanon, seeking safety from the war.Placement Program. After spending 11 years in the United States, JosephI credit much of my success growing up to returned to Lebanon to marry Gezel, a longtime loveValdosta City Schools for providing me with the from his teenage years. The couple spent a yearrigor I needed to do well in school and to my together in the U.S. before welcoming their first child,parents for providing me with a comfortable and Laura. The Hanna family continued to grow, providingloving atmosphere, he said. Laura with a sister, Emily, and a brother, David, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration inThe next step for David was college, and with the accounting from Valdosta State University in Decemberworld becoming a more and more competitive 2017 and a Master of Accountancy in December 2018.place, he knew that he had to work hard, take 30 Langdale College of Business'