there she caught the eye of chef john besh, at the time a rising celebrity chef, who picked her for arship in new york city. tell me about your first meeting with chef besh. >> we talking for a while. i went home and was like, i think i might have this. i think this man liked me or he sees something in me. >> she has the energy, she has the smarts. she went to new york and just killed it. >> reporter: soon after graduating, she began working at some of new orleans' top restaurants. >> no sooner did she arrive in new orleans, then she started working. training those in the same outreach program that she came from. >> you all need this program. >> she has come back and she's made a difference in her world. >> reporter: so when habitat for humanity helped her dream of home ownership come true, a certain someone arrived as a surprise at the dedication ceremony. >> when i think of one person that really embodies the soul of what this is all about, it's syrena. now i'm crying. >> reporter: her life, once tattered by katrina. now whole again. >> tune in tonight as robin roberts hosts a one-h