Twenty-eight years ago, a pivotal decision altered the course of my future. Investing in my first stock in 1997 kickstarted a transformative journey. The returns from this investment played a vital role in funding my wife's and my graduate education, marking a significant turning point in our lives.

Back in the early 1990s, when the opportunity to pursue a PhD in biology in the US arose, financial constraints posed a significant challenge. With a modest monthly salary of $15 in my home country, the idea of affording a one-way plane ticket of $800 to the US felt like a distant dream. It was my sister's support from Shanghai that bridged this financial gap, not only providing the airfare but also crucial financial assistance for the journey. The monthly graduate stipend of close to $1000 a month in the US felt like a windfall, opening up a realm of new possibilities.

Immersed in research as a dedicated biology PhD student, my days were consumed by a whirlwind of work. Juggling teaching responsibilities with long hours in the lab, weekends and holidays became synonymous with scientific exploration. The pursuit of knowledge knew no bounds, often keeping me in the lab until the late hours, eagerly awaiting the outcomes of experiments.

A chance encounter in 1996 with a generous lab mate reshaped my financial path. His inheritance of a substantial stock portfolio piqued my interest in investments, a field previously unfamiliar to me. The formation of an investment club within our lab united us, pooling resources and expertise to navigate the stock market. From dissecting ValueLine reports to dissecting companies like Johnson Controls, the journey into fundamental analysis commenced, laying the groundwork for my venture into personal stock investments in 1997, coinciding with the rise of the internet era.

In the spring of 1998, as I entered my fifth year of the PhD program, I began questioning whether biology research was my lifelong calling. I was equally captivated by the stock market and the world of investing. I faced a tough decision: continue the PhD or switch careers. My wife and I had saved just over $30,000 from my stipend and her part-time restaurant job. I dreamed of attending a top MBA program to become an investment professional, but the cost was prohibitive. A master’s in computer science seemed a better option, as I could complete it in one and a half years and land a well-paying job. However, funding both my computer science master’s and my wife’s MBA would cost at least $60,000, excluding living expenses. The prospect of earning a PhD only to become a perpetual postdoc was daunting, so I took a bold risk.

In the summer of 1998, I quit my PhD program just before completion and enrolled in a computer science master’s program. I needed to complete four undergraduate prerequisite courses, starting with Operating Systems and Data Structures that summer. My wife also began her studies while working weekends at the restaurant. With limited capital, we couldn’t allocate all our funds to tuition. Fortunately, a credit card offered a 0% balance transfer with a 4% one-time fee and no interest for a year, requiring only minimum payments. This allowed me to keep most of our money invested.

The US stock market entered a bull run in 1997. My stock investments performed decently, but the returns were slow. In the summer of 1998, I opened an options account and, in September, bought AMZN January 1999 LEAPS and eBay stock. AMZN’s meteoric rise propelled my account to over $200,000 by February 1999, covering our tuition and living expenses. I paid all credit card balance. That same month, after my wife’s car was totaled in an accident, we confidently spent $25,000 on a brand-new Toyota Camry—the first new car in my life. In September 1999, after selling half my stock holdings, I bought Yahoo, CMGI, and JDSU January 2000 LEAPS. By January 2000, after selling the LEAPS, my account reached my first million dollars, totaling $1.06 million—a life-changing milestone.

I didn’t foresee the dot-com bubble, and escaping its peak was sheer luck. The day before Thanksgiving in 1999, I interviewed with three companies and received offers from X, a pharmaceutical company, and a high-tech firm. Mr. M?offered me a position as a Systems Analyst at X, working on research products for the platform. I chose X without hesitation. Though not an investment role, it was my entry into the financial industry. Nine years ago, I followed my dream and founded my own investment company.

The greatest lesson of my life is this: You must live your own life to find happiness. Doing what you’re good at and love brings joy and motivation. Knowing what you can and cannot do—especially what you cannot do—is critical. I can’t imagine how miserable I’d be today if I hadn’t left biology 27 years ago. The same applies to investing: without passion for deep research, achieving strong returns is difficult.

For me, investing is about more than money—it’s about engaging in something I’m skilled at and passionate about, which fills me with motivation and joy. The power of passion is limitless. When I arrived in the US, I was penniless. Graduate school and career changes were tough. But equally important as wealth is doing what I love, no matter the challenges. It keeps my heart at peace and full of joy.

The years 1998–2000 were filled with firsts—challenging yet rewarding moments I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.