At the ripe old age of eleven, I found my first love. It wasn’t your traditional boy meets girl type of relationship, but rather more of an unorthodox attraction that remains instilled in me today. My father introduced me to her, the world I profoundly adore now, the world of investing. After formalities were over, I was allowed to make my first investment. I chose GameStop. At the time, my amateur reasoning-a point where I wasn’t thinking about...

Tabula rasa, a term coined by John Locke meaning “blank slate” or to me, the perfect way to describe how I began investing. My venture began one morning as I shuffled across the shaggy carpet lining of my parent’s bedroom over to my father’s laptop. Out of curiosity, I peered over his shoulder to see a magnificent display of red, green, and black that still never ceases to amaze me. I asked him what the protruding symbols and...

Over half of Americans have zero dollars in the stock market. To me, that fact was outright appalling. Never had I imagined almost every other person in my beloved country was either too afraid or lacked the knowledge to apply such a necessary skill. Even I, a lowly adolescent, has the ability to invest what little income I possess and make it grow to amounts far beyond my ability to generate from a job. It was because of this lack...

When asked what subject kids hate the most, the majority of students will say math. However, for me I’m the exact opposite. From the very moment I began school, math has always had a special hold on me. There’s something about wrapping your head around a problem, trying out different ideas, and finally coming up with a solution that makes math so enticing. I just love the sensation that takes over me when I’m trapped in thought,...

Over a million people in the United States alone are named Kevin. Clearly, my name is not unique. However, just like how every one of these other “Kevins” has a distinct fingerprint, I have a disparate personality. I yearn to help others, out of compassion, empathy, and the warm fuzzy feeling you get inside when you know you’ve made a difference in someone else’s life. Whether it be from giving a few dollars to someone less fortunate on...

As a kid, I would spend my recesses wandering aimlessly in the yard, attempting to sell pieces of candy my mother had bought in bulk for a modest profit. However, as I matured, I outgrew my adolescent practices and followed my father’s shoes by moving on to pouring my money into the stock market. I started out fragile and naive, but was able to grow from years of research and dedication to a trader capable of making it on...

As a kid, I would spend my recesses wandering aimlessly in the yard, attempting to sell pieces of candy my mother had bought in bulk for a modest profit. However, as I matured I outgrew my adolescent practices and followed my father’s shoes by moving on to pouring my money into the stock market. I started out fragile and naive, but was able to grow from years of research and dedication to a trader capable of making it on...

As an avid options trader, I’ve spent my days lost in thought, constantly devising new strategies to make money from the market and attempting to understand the mechanisms that influence its change. No matter what I do, the dynamics of trading constantly change, requiring me to keep on edge, never ceasing to end my contemplation. What I seek is a way to understand and to develop my way of thinking which I hope to do at the University of...

Square one, the oh so hated beginning, the start of your journey, the first piece of the puzzle. In reality, there are multiple square ones, but in practicality, I only have one square one. I consider it to be the very second I embarked on my venture. My voyage began almost 8 years ago, but the fact is, it hasn’t even gone near completion yet. It all started with a piece of paper. Not just any ordinary piece of paper,...

On the outskirts of San Francisco, near Ocean Beach, is where my second home lies. I’ve spent countless hours there, training, improving, and defining who I am. I discovered this place at the age of 8, approximately eight years ago and ever since that day, I’ve redefined my life. Sitting complacently on the corner of Balboa and 41st lies a small beige building, the door remains creaky, the curtains are nearly always drawn, and the place itself conforms with...