What We Can All Learn From A Janitor

Gac Filipaj, a refugee from the former Yugoslavia, arrived in America not knowing a word of English.

He came here with nothing but a dream and an unwavering commitment to realizing it. He landed a job as a janitor at Columbia University, doing the most unpleasant tasks such as emptying trash and cleaning toilets. Rather than feeling victimized or hopeless, he viewed this work as a platform for growth.

Filipaj ended work each night at 11 p.m., which is when his schoolwork began. While others wer...