Reflections of a Former Child Garment Worker — Inside the Sweatshop: Part 4

Working in a sweatshop as a child shaped my view of work and wealth as an American immigrant. I was six years old when I started. Part 4 of 4.

Continued from Part 3

Balancing work and life as a child

I would sew on weekday nights and the weekends, and attended school during the day. By some miracle, I still made the honor roll each quarter, but I achieved straight As only once.

I thought my struggle with getting straight As was because I slacked off more than other kids, but looking back, it’s likely I was exhausted or suffering mentally.

Over time, I’ve developed the opinion there is not much to brag about if you work and go to school for a prolonged period; you can only burn both ends of a candle for so long.

The Honor roll blessings didn’t last long after we moved as I continued to help my parents with other endeavors. My grades started to suffer after many relocations across the country.

Back then, even though our sweatshop was at home and not a factory, our home looked very much like a regular sweatshop: piles of unfinished clothes strewn everywhere, no air conditioning, fans blowing hot air and dust around, and the smell of cut polyester.

Even though I was working, I still had limited independence and had to be cared for, much like any other child.

For instance, it’s not like I could take myself to school; we had no dedicated school buses in the LA suburbs. Also, it’s not like I could make all my meals and buy groceries.

When I got sick, my parents would get upset at me, which made me feel like getting sick was due to my own carelessness. My parents had no time to keep taking care of sick children. I felt like a burden, and I continued to sew because it made me feel like my contribution was adding value to my family’s life.

From the age of seven onward, I devoted my time to assisting my parents whenever possible, whether after school or during school breaks.

I unknowingly developed a mental illness.

Each morning, I would rise and wash my face, only to find myself staring blankly at the wall, wondering what the purpose of the upcoming day was.

To me, life appeared dreary, repetitive, and devoid of meaning. I was 8 when these thoughts started.

I was 34 when I was finally diagnosed with major depressive disorder. My psychiatrist and therapist attribute my upbringing and genetics as the cause.

Before school, my child-brain would recount the days ahead of me; there was at least a decade more of schooling ahead because I had to go to college.

My dad was unable to go to college in Vietnam because of his Chinese ethnicity, so he experienced immense racism.

It didn’t even matter what college. My parents drilled that into my brain everyday.

I already had little respite due to needing to work during school breaks, college seemed like such a far reach. Could I last long like this? Even a child like myself realized after college ends, the real world starts.

The same real-world my parents struggled to navigate every day? But we had to be more successful.

How? With what tools? It weighed heavily on me; I would have to repeat this exhausting routine every day, just like my parents did. I could not help but wonder if this was all there was to life.

I battled with overwhelming feelings of depression even well into adulthood. I would have episodes of productivity followed by periods of sheer lack of motivation.

I was conflicted.

I was old enough to understand my parents had left behind comfort in their home country to bring us to this country for a better life. If life here was indeed better than where they came from, then the tiresome childhood I was living now was shimmers and gold.

I had to come to terms with these facts of life before I even finished elementary school.

Life eventually did get much better, but not until over a decade later and a 3,000-mile relocation across the country.

But as luck would have it, I graduated college during the Great Recession, and I certainly didn’t get to use my sewing skills to boost the odds of landing my first job.

For obvious reasons, I never considered majoring in any type of fashion-related degree.

Growing up, I wanted to be as far away from fabric and sewing as possible. Luckily, that’s what I got.

Today, I don’t cringe whenever I see a sewing machine or walk by mass-produced clothing stores like Old Navy and H&M.

In this last section, I end this series by discussing why I’m telling this story.

Developing a Wealthy Mindset from Poverty

Despite the struggles growing up on welfare and having to juggle work and school as a child, growing up in this country made me realize poverty is not only financial distress but it is also a way of thinking.

A lack of resources can make striving for long-term success much more complex, such as going to college or starting a business, both of which require money and time.

But I refused to let my circumstances define me. There is a great thing about being a United States citizen. I knew the poverty I was born into didn’t have to dictate my future. I decided to reshape my mindset, turning adversity into opportunity. Did I have a choice? It was either that or let this terrible “depression” win.

A few things I did:

• I went to college on a few need-based grants (I know college is not for everyone but I didn’t have a choice)
• I postponed going to grad school until I saved enough
• Minimized my student debt
• Worked part-time throughout college
• Got a white collar job (although any job requiring some critical thinking would’ve been fine, like managing a salon)
• I spoke to as many people as possible about their jobs and lives to understand successful people’s lives better.
• Minimized my spending and took odd jobs throughout my youth, such as mystery shopping in college to pay for groceries and the occasional pizza. Wish I could say I was always a prolific saver, but that wasn’t true until my second year of working. I was broke my first year of white collar work.
• Managed my creeping depression by eating healthy, exercising, and seeking out therapists during high stress periods.
• Invested early when the market bottomed out. This was not because I’m a financial wizard. My parents lost their home during the subprime mortgage and I figured we could only go up from there. After all, real estate wasn’t an option for a while.

I am grateful to the people I met along the way who took the time to tell me about their careers, journeys, successes, and failures. I finally accomplished enough to feel comfortable but could never shake remorse for my younger self.

I needed more mentors, role models, and safe spaces growing up.

One of the most significant gaps I noticed was that financial literacy is not taught in school even though it’s so important. If my family had half the knowledge I have now about money, we would’ve lived a much different life.

So, I started Modern Money to share real financial journeys, successes, and failures related to money and work. Everything is written from the perspective of an average person who escaped poverty using simple means.

I conclude this article by listing a few steps I took on my journey:

How I got out of poverty

1. Pursuing Education: I attended college with the support of need-based grants, avoiding excessive student debt. I postponed graduate school to manage my finances more wisely. It was exhausting and sometimes disheartening, but it taught me the value of hard work and resilience.
2. Continuous Learning: I would read investment books in college even though I didn’t have a dollar to my name, and I didn’t understand half of what the book was saying. Every bit of learning, no matter how small, felt like an investment in my future. I believed every page I turned was a step towards breaking free from the cycle of poverty. It clicked later on when I bought my first ETF and stock.
3. Balancing Work and Study: I worked part-time while pursuing my education, understanding the importance of hard work and financial responsibility. It takes some trial to figure out the right balance; in my first year, I continued to work full-time and attend school, which was a mistake. I burned out quickly and took a year off from school. I didn’t learn my lesson and burned out 10 years later in my corporate career 😅. I’m doing things right this time, though.
4. Connecting with People: I actively engaged with as many people as possible, listening to their experiences, jobs, and lives. After we moved, my parents eventually opened a nail salon, and I worked there for almost ten years (note: this work experience also did not help me land my eventual corporate job). I informally interviewed many salon customers this way and noticed the distinct spending habits of the financially wise and unwise. This allowed me to gain consistent insights into the daily choices of successful individuals.
5. Lived Within My Means: I learned to spend less than I made each month as an adult. It was only possible once I started automatically tracking my spending. I was basically broke the first year I started working purely because I had no money management skills. It wasn’t taught to me, I had to look back at what I learned from the rich customers at my parent’s salon to change my habits.
6. Invested my Savings: It can be tempting to buy the things you couldn’t have as a kid once you come into some money, but it’s all about balance. I tried to consistently save as much of my savings as possible for most of my working years, while still enjoying life. When I was 24 I bought a glitch fare that allowed me to travel to Paris, Tokyo, Prague, Venice, and Munich with my best friends for less than $300. I also lived alone but rented my apartment on the weekends to tourists (I don’t think most people can do this now) so I could have more savings to invest.

I’m grateful to the individuals who generously shared their success stories and struggles. Today, I’ve achieved comfort in my life, but I regret it when I think about my younger self. Like I said, I lacked mentors, role models, and safe spaces during my upbringing.

For instance: I got scammed out of $120 in high school when I was trying to start a small eBay shop for Apple products. It was one of those Western Union frauds.

I scrapped through life more than I needed to. I now know life is more abundant when you connect with other humans.

My current profession is not creative; my story and past don’t mean much to my colleagues or clients, but I know the lessons I learned regarding money come from a unique place. I hope my articles reach people who need to hear them.

Like a set of memoirs, I aim to share personal experiences related to money and work — both the triumphs and the setbacks.

Together, we can heal, find comfort, and grow while building a brighter future for those who come after us. Here are some of the key goals I’ve prioritized along the way:

1. Mentorship: Creating a community where individuals can find mentors and guidance, filling the void I once experienced in my youth.

2. Resource Sharing: Offering valuable resources and insights to help others on their journey towards financial and personal success.

3. Fostering Safe Spaces: Establishing safe and supportive open discussions and learning spaces.

4. Inspiration: Inspiring individuals with stories of perseverance and achievement to help them overcome challenges they may face.

My life’s journey has taught me poverty is not just a lack of financial resources; it’s a mindset that can be changed.

With the right attitude, determination, and a commitment to personal growth, anyone can break free from poverty and create a life of abundance, both in material wealth and in the richness of experiences and personal development.

Thank you for reading this series!

Hey everyone, thanks for reading. I’m a former corporate management consultant writing about work, culture, and personal finance. I’m not a financial advisor. I’m just an average person.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any significant financial decisions.