“Who the hell is Ross Nova?”
 

Ross Nova a Christian Republican, badass from Bulgaria who came into this world fighting. I was born in Bulgaria and thrown into an orphanage at birth. Survival there was simple. Fight bigger kids, dodge staff with sticks, and steal vegetables and apples from nearby farms just to eat.

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At eight years old I was taken from that orphanage and eventually shipped to the United States, landing in the frozen middle of North Dakota. January 1998. Negative temperatures, snow everywhere. I remember thinking later, “Really? This was the deal?”
 

Why not California with sunshine and movie stars? Instead I got Grand Forks.

At eighteen I joined the United States Army because I had no idea how I would pay for college or what direction my life would take. I raised my right hand, swore the oath, and soon found myself at Fort Benning training as an infantryman.
 

The Army broke me down and rebuilt me stronger. Discipline, focus, mission first. Later I joined a Pathfinder unit and deployed to Iraq. We trained constantly and specialized in search and rescue, navigation, reconnaissance, and helicopter operations. Our job was to go in first, secure landing zones, and guide in the rest of the troops. First in. Last out.
 

Serving overseas changed me. It made me realize how rare and valuable American freedom really is. When I returned, I learned something strange. I had served in the Army but was not yet a citizen. Three months later I took the oath and proudly became an American.
 

Since then I have worked in restaurants, driven trucks across Minnesota, and lived the life of a working American. I do not want handouts, I want opportunity.

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Minnesota should reward work, responsibility, and independence. Because the real American dream is simple; freedom, opportunity. Earn your way.