Leaving Home

Sue: ‘I left home when I was just 19 years old, and my bad shopping habits vanished immediately! In the first week, I realised that ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’. I remember that on my 18th birthday I spent $2,000 on the party. My 20th party was different. I had only my parents and best friends by my side. Somehow leaving home helped me learn the value of money.’

Patrick: ‘Leaving home wasn’t a good experience for me. I decided to move to Los Angeles when I was 21. I had a dream – becoming a famous actor. I was very busy and tired with work. I sometimes forgot to text my parents for a week. Days were passing by quickly and I lost a lot of my friends. But none of those problems were as bad as losing my father. He passed away when I was busy working for a dream, so I didn’t have the chance to be with him.’

Lauren: ‘I left home after a big fight with my family. I was 18 when it happened. I made amends to them a month later, and it was because I understood that their job was difficult. Having a family and keeping it together aren’t easy at all, and living on my own helped me learn that.’