was bornative spano: i in tampa. i could not have had a better childhood, i grew up in a small community and have been there my entire life. small business owner. he built homes. my mom worked with him in the business. fact that i'm able to come to d.c. and represent the most important constituency, which is small businesses, is a .ig deal for me >> you cite your parents conservative values. rep. spano: they taught me how to treat people. they taught me how to work hard, how to love people. if you dad had a saying, honor god, treat people right and persevere, you can accomplish anything. that is the american dream. rep. spano: it's kind of crazy. he told me that fairly regularly. >> why? rep. spano: i think he wanted me to understand and appreciate the value of what we have in this nation. most people around the world don't have it and i grew up understanding out and believing it and pursuing it. >> where do you think that came from for him? he was only two generations removed from sicily, so his father and grandfath

spano: i was born with it. it's the way god made me. >> any mentors in your life? rep. spano: one we mentioned, my father, who told me every he was proud of me. you can't overestimate the value parent in your life it gives you that kind of affirmation. i had an influential college professor and advisor who believed in me and expected more and he, knew i had more, drew it out of me. he encouraged me to go to law school and pursue my dreams. >> what was the tough stretch? rep. spano: i was lost. i was a nontraditional student. didn'torking full-time, have any direction, didn't have a whole lot of confidence. inad a couple of semesters commune the college when i wasn't too successful -- community college when i wasn't too successful. he said you just have to commit yourself and you can do this. >> did you have a young family at the time? rep. spano: i did. i had two small children. we were married. that was a struggle, providing for them. i worked full-time and went to school at night. >> you have grandchildren as well. rep. spano: we just had two grandchildren this year --

was bornative spano: i in tampa. i could not have had a better childhood, i grew up in a small community and have been there my entire life. small business owner. he built homes. my mom worked with him in the business.