High School Dropout to Investor

In response to the curiosity of some of my readers, I’ve decided to share a brief personal story. It’s a part of my life I haven’t shared with many, but it’s a journey that has shaped me in unexpected ways. I made the unconventional decision to drop out of high school in my final year for reasons I won’t get too deep into. But in short, I wished to earn money, hated school, hanging with the wrong crowds and was performing poorly in my classes.

As an immigrant family, our family struggled the moment they arrived in the states when I was 6 years old. The actual realization of our financial struggles hit me around the age of 15 to 16. We lived in a cramped, poorly insulated, and moldy one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles ever since we arrived. We lived in a rent-controlled apartment for about 20 years due to the low rent payments. I often remember the dinner table discussions between mom and dad that often spiraled into arguments over money. Somedays the arguments would spiral out of control with both in the brinks of divorce. Despite my silence as a child, the familial discord weighed heavily on my young shoulders.

At 16, I remember seeking permission from my parents to work part-time. They consented under the condition that I continue to focus on my education. My first job, at Kenny Rogers Roasters Chicken in Los Angeles, paid me a modest $4.25 per hour. Working at my first job was exciting but my initial experiences with co-workers were less pleasant due to my inability to lift hot trays. I remember handing my first paycheck to my mother, a gesture met with laughter and a gentle reminder to focus on schooling. It felt good and I felt proud at the fact that I was helping during tough times.

I soon decided to drop out of school, and in the subsequent years, I navigated through an array of jobs—from restaurants and administration to factory work and even roofing. Each experience brought me face to face with the realization how much I despised every job I undertook.

One day I visited a local library to look for books on how to make money. That is where I discovered the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” marking a turning point, opening my eyes to a world I had never considered. The book eventually guided me towards magazines related to money and eventually subscribing to the WSJ newspaper.

In the beginning, I understood absolutely nothing. The many terminologies almost bored me out of the topic of finance. Until I came across an article about Warren Buffett, in which he quickly became my role model. I was quickly inspired, and I found his success with investing fascinating which led me to decide I was going to emulate some of his achievements. He somehow helped me conclude that investing was the only way out of poverty.

Since that point forward, I immersed myself in learning about investing. I obsessed and forced myself to self teach the world of finance one word at a time. I reduced listening to music to substitute with financial news. I subscribed to all the money magazines, and I went to bed every night reading about investing.

The journey to financial literacy was not swift. It took me several years to grasp the intricacies of financial concepts that most college students learned in a semester or two. Despite the prolonged learning curve, I have no regrets. The process of constantly questioning, pondering, and seeking understanding refined my critical thinking skills over those years.

Today, I continue to employ the same method of questioning and seeking answers to deepen my knowledge. The wealth of information available online has made learning more accessible than in my earlier years. I believe that everyone has their unique learning curve, and what matters most is understanding your curve, staying engaged, remaining persistent and fostering curiosity. Regardless of our backgrounds, we all have the capacity to improve and grow. The fertile lands of this country make growing your seeds far easier than say the emerging markets.

Time and effort are the only differentiators when it comes to knowledge between us all.

So yes, I forced myself to learn about finance but later grew to love it.

Thank you for reading.