‘Give with Joy’ story series: Formerly homeless teen graduates from law school

Our Give with Joy story series highlights how your donations to The Salvation Army Northern Division impact lives in Minnesota and North Dakota. This Christmas season, spread joy by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.

Thanks to your gifts, a young woman named Zarina has graduated from law school after overcoming impossible odds.

Zarina grew up with her mother in the Twin Cities area, living in poverty. Her mother struggled to maintain employment due to severe mental health challenges, which led to Zarina experiencing chronic housing instability and changing schools frequently.  

“We moved every year,” Zarina recalled. “There were no trips to the park. No summer vacations.”

To make matters even more difficult, Zarina’s father was mostly absent.

“He was almost never in the picture – and when he was, it was abuse and neglect,” she said. 

While Zarina was in high school, her mother abruptly moved to Seattle. Zarina was forced to stay in Minnesota to continue her education. She began living with friends and trusted adults in St. Paul.

Despite being homeless, Zarina was determined to graduate from high school. She excelled in her schoolwork and extracurricular activities, including basketball, debate team, and mentoring young girls.

“My circumstances don’t define who I am – they reveal who I’ve chosen to be,” Zarina said in 2018. “You have the power to change your circumstances. That’s something that is so powerful. That’s something that has kept me going." 

After weeks of couch-hopping, Zarina found stability at Salvation Army Booth Brown House – a shelter and housing facility in St. Paul for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. The facility is funded by your donations and includes 16 emergency shelter beds and 35 units of permanent and transitional housing.

At Booth Brown House, Zarina was given safe and stable housing, nutritious food, and guidance from Salvation Army caseworkers. She received all the support she needed to finish high school. 

She also received help in charting a path to her long-term educational goals, which at the time included attending Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., with dreams of going to law school. Zarina’s caseworker at Booth Brown House, Natalie Bogdan, helped by connecting her to resources for college-bound high school graduates, including an ACT tutor to meet with every week.

“That support significantly increased my test score and gave me the confidence to pursue college – something I never had access to before,” Zarina said. “The consistency and guidance at Booth Brown House were foundational to my academic success.”

Natalie had no doubt that Zarina would go far in life.

“Zarina is a passionate and focused individual who has truly ‘beat the odds,’” Natalie said in 2018. “I have high hopes that Zarina will accomplish all the goals that she has set forth for herself and make an impact.”

That was eight years ago. Today, Zarina has achieved every educational goal she set out to accomplish – and more.

Bright future

In late 2025, Zarina mailed The Salvation Army a letter stating that she had graduated, cum laude, from Spelman College in 2022. Furthermore, in May she earned her law degree from California Western School of Law, passing the state’s Bar Exam on her first attempt.

Despite being outrageously busy with her schoolwork over the years, Zarina made giving back a priority. While in law school, she founded the First-Generation Law Students Association – a charity to support students who, like her, were the first in their families to attend law school.

“This work reflects how deeply The Salvation Army shaped my commitment to giving back and supporting others who are navigating similar challenges,” Zarina said.

Today, Zarina’s lifetime of hard work, focus, and perseverance have paid off: She recently accepted a job offer to serve as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States Air Force.

There are no limits to what Zarina will accomplish in the future. She is grateful to The Salvation Army and our donors for helping her reach her highest potential. 

“(The Salvation Army) gave me the stability and encouragement I needed at a pivotal point in my life, and I carry that gratitude with me every step forward,” she said. 

This Christmas season, support The Salvation Army by giving a donation or ringing bells at a Red Kettle. Your generosity will bring joy to local families in need.