Forty years ago, Teena Nguyen came to America but her road to the American Dream didn't come easy.

Nguyen is the mom of Walt Whitman senior Joe Robert, who is a tough offensive lineman. Robert says he got his toughness from his mom.

"She's not afraid of anyone," says Robert. "She might be a little Asian lady but she'll go anywhere with anyone."

Nguyen was born in Vietnam. In 1981, Nguyen's parents were desperate to get her out of Vietnam and get her to a refugee camp in Indonesia. She successfully made it to the boat on her third try.

Nguyen, who was 10 at the time, says the first attempt didn't work and on the second try she was arrested. She eventually made it to America.

She attended the Elwood School District, where she now works as an accountant.

Robert has a huge appreciation for not only what his mom went through as a young girl but where she is now.