My parents told me to take the bus to my Harvard graduation because they were too busy buying my sister a brand-new Tesla, but when they finally showed up expecting to watch me quietly walk across the stage and go back to celebrating her, the dean took the mic, said my name, and my father dropped his program as the whole crowd learned what I had built while they were busy acting like I was never the child worth showing up for. – Reading Times

I ended up attending my own valedictory ceremony entirely alone while sitting among rows of families who were cheering for their children. As I stood at the podium delivering a speech about the power of perseverance, I scanned the vast audience for two faces that I knew were miles away at a dance recital.

That specific night, I made a firm and final decision about my future. I had received a partial scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, which was enough to make my attendance possible but not enough to cover the high cost of living in the city.

My parents had vaguely mentioned that they might help with some of my expenses, but I decided at that moment that I would never ask them for a single cent again. During the summer before I left for college, I worked three different jobs to build up my personal savings.

I served as a barista in the early mornings and worked as an administrative assistant in the afternoons before tutoring local students in the evenings. I saved every single penny I earned and lived as frugally as humanly possible.