A Teenager Who Built Himself Up from Nothing After a Troubled Childhood

This is a true story about a friend, not fiction.

He bought several houses and a commercial unit. As he put it, he had been scared as a child living in a dilapidated house battered by wind and rain, so he always wanted to buy more homes to feel secure.

I'd known him for years and understood what kind of person he was, but I knew nothing about his tragic childhood or how, as a determined young man, he started from nothing and made his way up. One day, over drinks, he finally told me the whole story of his life so far. I was deeply moved and admired him even more.

This piece has no brilliant prose or elegant turns of phrase, just honest, heartfelt feelings. Today, I'm telling his story in the first person. I only hope that after reading about his experiences, you, whether you're struggling to get ahead or at a low point in life with an uncertain future, will find inspiration to keep fighting and work hard to build a better life.