Growth Is a Journey—from the Hands to the Heart
To be honest, all four of us in the family are pretty handy. The other three seem to have been born with the talent, while mine was probably sparked later in life—or maybe I had it all along, just buried under the weight of daily responsibilities until something brought it back to life.
This morning, right after we finished assembling a cabinet, Bokei excitedly told me she had designed a bedside table she wanted to bring with her to Amherst College. I was a little surprised. “You’re flying to the East Coast and bringing a bedside table with you?” She explained that was exactly why it had to be lightweight and foldable. She had already sketched out the design—she just needed me to drive her to Home Depot for some materials, and later she’d find a place to 3D-print a few custom parts.
I didn’t ask too many questions. She’s always had a gift for building things, ever since she was little, and I’ve learned to trust her instincts. So I played the role of her chauffeur and off we went.
At Home Depot, the man helping her cut the wood was surprisingly chatty. Once he heard about her project and that she was starting college in the fall, he launched into stories about his own three accomplished kids—it didn’t sound like he was bragging, just genuinely proud. Then he casually mentioned that he was actually a fiber optics engineer who used to manage a large team. After thirty years in the industry, he decided to do something completely different, and now he’s working at Home Depot to experience a new kind of life. It all sounded a bit surreal, but from the way he carried himself, you could tell he wasn’t just any store clerk.
He even asked Bokei about her major and encouraged her to pursue whatever truly inspired her.
On the drive home, Bokei and I talked about the future. She said she would never choose a career solely for the money, but she also wouldn’t major in something that left her unemployed or severely underpaid. What mattered most to her was doing something she genuinely loved—something that gave her life purpose.
She admitted she didn’t like finance because, in her words, “people in that industry are too obsessed with the bottom line.”
I smiled and said, “Money isn’t everything—but without it, things can get really hard.”
She nodded. “I know. But as long as I keep moving forward like this—studying hard and giving my best—I believe the partner I’ll meet someday won’t be a problem either. We’ll both be professionals, and we’ll have a secure life. We won’t need to compromise our values for money.”
This girl of mine—she really sees things clearly.